^, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


12.8 


ISO 


|2j5 


I.I 


us 

IIS 

u 


2.2 


IL25  nil  1.4 


^  1^ 

- 1^ 

1.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTIR.N.Y.  MSSO 

(716)  •73-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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B 


D 


D 
0 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculie 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


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Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

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D 
D 
D 


D 
D 
D 


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D 


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Ce  document  eat  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "I,  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »•  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
film^s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  6  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

l^- 


M^ 


■^ST*' 


■*•  1,"- 


■■X^    »fl-^    WW    *'^^*    »fl*    ^Q*    »IV*    »fl^ 


te.*ai, ., 


MARIA  MONK 


AND    THE 


NUNNERY  OF  THE  HOtELDIEU 


BEING  AN 


ACCOUNT   OF  A  VISIT 


TO  THE 


C  ON VE  NTS 


OF 


M  O  N  T  R  E  A  L , 


AND 


REb'UTATION  OP  THE  "AWFUL  DISCLOSURES." 


AUDI  ALTERAM  PARTEM. 


BY  WILLIAM  L.  STONE. 


NEW  YORK  : 


HOWE    &  BATES, 


1836. 


'^-^r 


<» 


MARIA  MONK 


AND   TUB 


NUNNERY  OF  THE  HOTEL  DIEU. 


BEING  AN 


ACCOUNT   OF  A  VISIT 


TO  THE 


CONVENTS 


OF 


MONTREAL, 


AND 


REFUTATION  OP  THE  "AWFUL  DISCLOSURES." 


AUDI  ALTERAM  PARTEM. 


BY  WILLIAM  L.  STONE. 


NEW   YORK  : 

HOWE    &   BATES. 


/- 


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EnthivCD  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1836, 
By  HOWE  Sl  BATES, 
.     in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


t  i      J 


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CnAlCIIEAU      AND      AI,  LEN,      PRINTERS, 

Corner  uf  Aim  and  Nu»sau-itrc(.t.<i. 


It  is  f 

universa 

who  dec 

at  Monti 

United  I 

prefatory 

in  part, 

Neverthc 

perfluous 

Thesl 

the  New 

nienced,, 

at  most  t 

work,  bo 

and  more 

him  that 

rate  treat 

and  perhi 

upon  his 

in  his  wa; 

that  usefu 

three  colu 


tAiJU^U^dSm 


-i-<v    •   •  I       :     •    t.    '  -■■  .'-itir 


.!,  A    -  ' 


w 


>  1 .  '  ■         / . .  1    „ 


I      ■    I  i  •  1 


PREFACE. 


36, 
-k. 


It  is  possible  tliat  the  strong  and  general — perhaps  I  might  say 
universal — interest  with  which  the  revelations  of  the  young  woman 
who  declares  herself  to  be  a  nun  of  the  convent  of  the  Hotel  Dicu 
at  Montreal,  have  been  and  still  are  received  by  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  may  he  thought  to  obviate  the  necessity  of  this 
prefatory  notice ;  the  object  of  it  being  simply  to  make  known 
in  part,  the  reasons  which  have  led  to  the  present  publication. 
Nevertheless,  a  few  words  of  explanation  may  not  be  thought  su- 
perfluous.       V  ,    .  ,:,J.  ,;,  „..,  .^  ^    „   !  -^  ■!    '  .,    ,  ■,  .        .-.■;■  -t. 

The  statement  contained  in  the  following  pages  was  written  for 
the  New  York  Commercial  Advertiser ;  and  when  it  was  com- 
menced, the  intention  was  merely  to  give  a  newspaper  arti-'e  of 
at  most  two  or  three  columns.  As  the  writer  proceeded  with  the 
work,  however,  the  importance  of  his  undertaking  became  more 
and  more  obvious  to  the  mind,  and  with  it  a  feeling  grew  upon 
him  that  the  subject  admitted  and  required  a  more  full  and  elabo- 
rate treatment  than  he  had  origlnaHy  contemplated.  This  feeling, 
and  perhaps  the  influence  of  a  destiny  which  seems  to  have  cast 
upon  his  shoulders  the  task  of  showing  up  impostures,  by  throwing 
in  his  way  the  requisite  materials,  in  a  number  of  instances,  for 
that  useful  though  generally  iil-rowarded  oflicc,  caused  the  two  or 
three  columns  to  extend  to  seven,  and  even  with  the  enlargement, 


m*»*mBfXissss. 


f^j-imnx 


IV 


much  remained  untold.  Some  inaccuracies  too,  were  the  most 
unavoidable  conse(|uencc  of  the  haste  with  whicii  the  MSS.  was 
ru<iiiired  by,  and  furnished  to,  the  printers ;  the  statement  was 
written  in  ten  consecutive  hours,  and  some  important  errors  were 
the  necessary  fruit  of  this  celerity.  The  eagerness  with  whicli 
copies  were  demanded,  and  the  general  notice  excite*!  by  the 
publication,  led  to  the  belief  that  it  was  worth  repeating  with  cor- 
rections, and  the  addition  of  some  facts  that  liad  a  bearing  upon 
the  merits  of  the  controversy,  and  had  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  writer  after  the  completion  of  the  original  MSS.  In  addition 
to  all  which,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel,  the  writer  was  most 
unexpectedly  thrown  into  the  company  of  a  second  impostor  of 
kindred  character,  who  has  either  come  to  this  city  to  try  her 
hand  in  the  same  business,  op  speculation,  or  has  been  brought 
hither  by  the  associates  of  Maria  Monk,  to  sustain  her  wretched 
inventions.  1  allude  to  Miss  Frances  Partridge,  or  St.  Patrick,  as 
she  says  she  was  called  in  a  convent  in  which,  although  an  inmate 
of  twenty  years  and  upward,  she  was  yet  ignorant  of  the  location. 
Of  course,  as  the  reader  will  see  in  the  end,  the  tales  of  the  se- 
cond impostor  will  fall  to  the  ground  with  those  of  the  first. 
Hence  the  issue  of  the  pamphlet  now  before  the  reader.  My 
object,  from  the  beginning,  has  been  simply  to  ascertain  and  de- 
clare the  truth  ;  this  I  have  done  conscientiously  and  faithfully  ; 
if  good  arise  therefrom,  to  the  power  of  truth  must  the  merit  be 

awarded. 

W.  L.  S. 


In  the 
the  provin 
it  was  hot  I 
The  sojou: 
which  the 
pleasant  t 
Doubly  so 
pitalities  o 
ting  to  our 

To  an 
eye  is  ace 
our  own  cc 
dwellings 
convenien* 
any  correc 
external  a 
island,  up< 
formed  by 
Ottawa  01 
half  in  brc 
to  the  Roi 

With  th 
to  the  he 
perfectly  1 


the  most 

MSS.  was 

emcnt  was 

rrors  were 

villi  wliicli 

teJ  by  the 

g  with  cor- 

aring  upon 

owludge  of 

[n  addition 

was  most 

mpostor  of 

to  try  her 

in  brought 

r  wretched 

Patrick,  as 

I  an  inmate 

le  location. 

of  the  se- 

the  first. 

der.     My 

n  and  de- 

faithfiilly  ; 

merit  be 

IL.  S. 


THE    HOTEL    DI  EU,    &c. 


i 


In  the  course  of  a  recent  flying  excursion  tiirough  a  portion  of 
the  province  of  Lower  Caiuida  bordering  upon  iho  St.  Lawrence, 
it  was  both  desirable  and  convenient  to  pass  a  few  days  in  Montreal. 
The  sojourn,  in  good  weather,  upon  that  rich  and  beautiful  island  of 
which  the  city  bears  the  name,  could  scarce  be  otherwise  than 
pleasant  to  the  in(|uiring  traveller,  under  any  circumstances. 
Doubly  so  was  it  rendered  to  us  by  the  kind  attentions  and  hos- 
pitalities of  intelligent  friends,  who  spared  no  pains  in  contribu- 
ting to  our  comfort,  and  ministering  to  our  curiosity. 

To  an  American  who  has  not  "been  abroad,"  and  whose 
eye  is  accustomed  only  to  the  light  and  airy  towns  and  cities  of 
our  own  countr}',  the  narrow  streets,  and  dark,  massive-built  stone 
dwellings  and  store-houses,  erected  with  an  eye  rather  to  use, 
convenience,  and  comfort,  than  to  the  gratification  of  taste,  or 
any  correct  principles  of  architecture,  the  city  itself  presents  few 
external  attractions.  But  its  location  is  very  beautiful.  Tlic 
island,  upon  the  southeastern  side  of  which  the  city  is  built,  is 
formed  by  the  St.  Lawrence  on  the  south,  and  by  a  branch  of  the 
Ottawa  on  the  north.  It  is  thirty  miles  in  length,  by  ten  and  a 
half  in  breadth — constituting  a  very  large  seignory,  and  belonging 
to  the  Roman  Catholic  Seminary. 

With  the  exception  of  a  single  mountain  rising  near  the  centre, 

■^  to  the    height   of  from  five   to   six    hundred  feet,  the  island   is 

perfectly  level,  and  for  the  most  part,  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 


'(•f -"ri.taii. 


6 


tion.  The  base  and  sidos  of  tlic  mountain  are  adorned  l»y  the 
orcliards,  gardens,  villas,  and  substantial  country  scats  of  the 
most  opulent  citizens,  while  it  is  crested  wiih  a  noble  array  of 
primitive  forest  trees.  The  orcliards  are  numerous  and  thrifty — 
producing  an  abundance  of  ajiples  of  the  finest  varieties,  several 
of  which  were  entirely  new  to  me.  All  the  usual  garden  fruits 
are  produced  in  great  abundance  and  perfection.  In  riding  upon 
the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  at  the  left,  as  wo  were  climbing 
the  road  that  passes  over  it,  among  other  fine  country  estates, 
my  attention  was  directed  to  an  ancient  stone  edifice,  on  the 
skirt  of  the  ascent,  surrounded  by  a  wall,  formerly  distinguished 
by  the  appellation  of  the  Chateau  dcs  Seigneurs  dc  Montreal 
but  now  generally  called  La  Maison  dcs  Pntres,  or  the  Priest's 
Farm,  as  it  belongs  to  the  seminary,  and  is  occupied  as  a  summer 
retreat  and  place  of  recreation  during  the  warm  weather.  The 
grounds  are  ample,  comprising  spacious  gardens  and  orchards  ; 
and  all  the  members  of  the  seminary,  priests,  tutors  and  pupils, 
resort  thither  once  a  week  in  summer. 

From  the  summit  of  this  mountain,  the  view  is  exceedingly 
picturesque  and  beautiful.  The  island  itself,  and  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence — pouring  the  mighty  floods  of  the 
great  lakes  into  the  Northern  Ocean — are  thickly  inhabited,  to 
the  extent  of  many  miles.  The  parish  churches  are  numerous  and 
every  where  surrounded  by  neat  white  cottages  of  the  peasantry 
clustering  around  them.  The  rapids  of  Lachine  in  a  perpetual 
foam  above  the  sweet  island  of  the  Nuns  on  the  South ;  the 
charming  island  of  St.  Helen's,  with  its  fortifications  in  front  of 
the  city,  and  the  lofty  mountains  of  Vermont  and  Chambly  in  the 
azure  distance  on  the  east  and  south  east;  with  a  level  plain, 
sprinkled  with  villages,  farms,  orchards  and  gardens,  all  around 
from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Ottawa,  spreading  beneath  the  feet 
of  the  beholder,  combine  to  make  up  a  landscape  such  as  is  rarely- 
excelled,  either  for  luxuriance  variety  or  beauty.     But  enough 

perhaps  already  too  much — of  description.  I  will  now  proceed 
to  graver  matters. 

Among  the  religious  and  other  public  institutions  of  Montreal 
demanding  the  attention  of  the  inquisitive  stranger,  the  monastic 


I 


establishmc 
The  history 
who  leads 
Christian  h( 
the  recluse.' 
of  the  Chr 
interest 
ish  legend — 
Egypt,    by 
Antony,  in 
"  Paul,  at  t 
learning  hot 
imbued    wit 
married  sisti 
get  possessic 
tian,  during 
covered  the 
intention  ha 
by  ;  but  the 
nected,  had 
instead  of  b( 
Thus  wandt 
to  some  ruin 
the  mint  of  . 
these  ruins  \ 
stone ;  remc 
what  his  bioj 
the  sky  ;  an 
with  its  broa 
the  ground, 
Providence 
main  ;  the  d 
and  from  the 
Egyptian  pa 
I  The  Egypti 
Great,  who 
the  deserts, 


■•?»'<-»'»f«ffffWB»wwpm«M«ff!W>ww«w 


led  !)>'  tlie 
lats  of  the 
le  arrtiy  of 
d  thrifty — 
es,  several 
irden  fruits 
riding  upon 
e  climbing 
ry  estates, 
e,  on  the 
stinguished 

Montreal 
he  Priest's 
1  a  summer 
her.     The 

orchards  ; 
ind  pupils, 

xceedingly 
le  eastern 
ds  of  the 
labitcd,  to 
nerous  and 

peasantry 

perpetual 
outh  ;  the 
in  front  of 
bly  in  the 

vel  plain, 
all  around 
ih  the  feet 
s  is  rarely 

enough — 
'f  proceed 

Montreal 
monastic 


establishments  of  the  Roman  Catholics  are  not  tho  least  prominent. 
The  history  of  iMunach ism,  from  ihu  diiys  of  Fuul  llio  Euvptiaii, 
who  leads  die  van  in  the  army  of  the  niouustic  saints  as  the  firsi 
Ciiristian  hermit — to  say  notliing  of  the  Essenes  and  Tli(;raj)eutcs, 
t!ie  recluses  of  Palestine  and  Egypt  heforo  the  commencement 
of  the  Christian  era — i:i  rich  in  instruction  and  of  absoibin^r 
interest.  The  first  monastery  was  founded,  according  to  the  Uoju- 
ish  legend — and  the  tale  is  a  beautiful  one — in  the  deserts  of  L- pj)er 
Egypt,  by  the  aforementioned  Paul,  in  connection  with  St, 
Antony,  in  the  year  30;.{,  or  thereabout.  The  legend  is  this  ; — 
"  Paul,  at  the  age  of  filteen,  is  said  to  have  been  versed  in  tho 
learning  both  of  Greece  and  his  own  country — Egypt — and  deeply 
imbued  with  principles  of  the  severest  piety,  lie  lived  with  a 
married  sister,  whose  husband  was  a  pagan,  and  who,  in  order  to 
get  possession  of  Paul's  i)roperty,  informed  against  him  as  a  chris- 
tian, during  the  terrible  i)ersecntion  of  Decius.  The  youth  dis- 
covered the  treachery  in  time,  and  withdrew  into  the  desert.  His 
intention  had  only  been  to  remain  there  till  the  danger  had  gone 
by  ;  but  the  villainy  of  one  with  whom  he  was  so  nearly  cout 
nected,  had  disgusted  him  with  n^ankind,  and  as  time  passed  on, 
instead  of  being  wearied  with  solitude,  he  ac(iuired  a  love  lor  it. 
Thus  wandering  farther  into  the  uninhabited  country,  liQ  came 
to  some  ruined  dwellings,  which,  according  to  the  siory,  had  been 
the  mint  of  Egypt  in  the  days  of  Antony  and  Cieopatia.  Near 
these  ruins  was  a  cave,  the  entrance  to  which  was  closed  by  u 
stone  ;  removing  this  rude  portal,  he  entered,  and  foinid  within 
what  his  biographer,  St.  Jerome,  calls  a  huge  vestibule,  open  to 
the  sky  ;  an  old  palm-tree  was  growing  there,  forming  a  canopy 
with  its  broad  head ;  under  the  palm  a  clear  fountain  welled  from 
the  ground,  and  presently  was  absorbed  again.  Believing  that 
Providence  had  brought  him  to  this  |)lace,  he  determined  to  re- 
main ;  the  dates  supplied  him  with  food,  the  fountain  with  drink, 
and  from  the  fibres  and  net-work  with  which  the  branches  of  the 
Egvptian  palm  are  interlaced,  he  made  himsdf  a  close  covering." 
The  Egyptian  solitary  was  afterward  joined  by  St.  Antony  the 
Great,  who  had  been  told  in  a  dream  that  there  was  a  Monk  in 
the  deserts,  more  retired  and  holy  than  himsell,  and  of  whom  he 


wtMittmc|^ 


8 


immediately  went  in  search.  Having  found  the  cave,  after  long 
importunity  he  was  admitted  into  his  abode  and  fellowship.  After 
a  timo  Antony  was  sent  back  for  a  vest  which  St.  Athanasius  had 
given  him,  and  in  which  Paul  desired  to  be  buried.  On  his  re- 
turn to  the  cave  he  was  apprised  of  the  decease  of  his  companion 
by  seeing  his  soul  ascend  in  glory :  ho  found  the  dead  hermit  on 
his  knees,  his  body  er  ,ct,  his  hands  and  head  and  eyes  upraised, 
in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  &;c.  Antony  subsequently  collected  a 
number  of  hermits  around  him,  who  built  their  huts  near  each 
other,  and  attended  their  devotions  in  common.  Such  was  the 
origin  of  Christian  Monasticism.  Female  monasteries,  or  con- 
vents of  nuns,  were  instituted  about  a  century  afterward.  Both 
have  been  at  times  eminently  useful,  and  both  at  other  times 
eminently  corrupt.  They  have  served  as  places  of  refuge  from 
persecution,  of  retirement  and  repose  from  the  cares  of  the  world, 
of  religious  study  and  meditation,  and  as  schools  of  learning,  be- 
nevolence and  virtue.  They  have  also  at  times  dejrenerated 
into  dens  of  debauchery  and  crime.  Still,  when  we  consider 
that  it  was  to  them,  for  many  centuries,  that  the  world  was  in- 
debted for  all  it  knew  of  letters  and  religion,  and  that  they  were 
the  abodes  of  such  meek  and  holy  spirits  as  Bedo  and  Thomas- 
a-Kempis,  it  is  not  to  be  taken  for  granted  by  every  opponent 
of  the  Roman  See,  that  a  monastery  must  necessarily  bo  the 
restibulc  of  hell,  and  every  recluse  worthy  only  of  such  an  abode. 
With  such  views  and  impressions,  I  was  of  course  glad  of  an 
opportunity  of  looking  at  an  establishment  of  this  description  with 
my  own  eyes  ;  and  having  from  my  youth  heard  much  of  the 
Christian  monasticism  of  Lower  Canada,  it  may  well  be  conjec- 
tured that  the  excitement  recently  enkindled  in  the  United  States 
against  the  priests  and  nuns  of  Montreal,  by  the  startling  publi- 
cations of  Maria  Monk,  in  connexion  with  the  writings  of  several 
Protestant  controversialists  of  acknowledged  talents  and  piety, 
had  not  abated  the  desire,  which,  under  any  circumstances,  I  should 
have  felt  to  visit  their  conununitics. — Of  the  verity  or  falsehood  of 
the  truly  '*  Awful  Disclosures"  of  Maria  Monk,  I  had  formed  no 
very  definite  opinion  previous  to  entering  the  province.  Indeed, 
I   had   not  read  the  book  in  any  other  manner  than  by  an  occa- 


sional and 

read  much  j 

strained  in  ( 

liever,  and 

lations  of  h 

than  otherwi 

True  the 

to  bring  the 

dened  of  ou 

frightful  aboi 

nuns  of  Mo 

Christian   re 

have  strayed 

error,  or  how 

cism  of  the  " 

successions  o 

it  to  suppose 

sought  in  sol 

tations  of  the 

us  its  garb — c 

ready  and  wi 

other  hand,  r 

Its  monstrous 

work  of  Mari 

most  estimabl 

christian  pietj 

record  the  ex 

religious  belie 

other  intellige 

tioiis,  ondeav 

was,  without 

others,  were  ( 

heard  that  ei 

York,  and  tli; 

pirl  away,  an( 

jMonlreal.     I 

luul  establish 


T?n!-'WHf>fi!H"ytWMIWP!fWW 


yjB^^^^*^B 


;  !i  TntitifS-nrt^+tr-: 


',  after  long 
hi  p.  After 
lanasius  had 

On  his  re- 

;  conripanion 

d  hermit  on 

;s  upraised, 

collected  a 

near  each 
uch  was  the 
Bs,  or  con- 
k'ard.  Both 
other  times 
refuge  from 
f  the  world, 
arning,  be- 
Jegenerated 
^e  consider 
rid  was  in- 

they  were 
d  Thomas- 
{  opponent 
rily  bo  the 
1  an  abode. 

glad  of  an 
^iption  with 
inch  of  the 

be  conjcc- 
lited  States 
tling  publi- 
i  of  several 

and  piety, 
OS,  I  should 
alsohood  of 

formed  no 

Indeed, 

ly  an  occa- 


1  9 

sional  and  rery  cursory  glance  at  a  few  of  its  pages.  Still  I  had 
read  much  from  and  o/it,  and  hoard  much  more  ;  and  I  am  con- 
strained in  candor  to  confess,  that,  although  at  times  a  partial  be- 
liever, and  at  others  a  sceptic  as  to  the  truth  of  her  fearful  reve- 
lations of  hypocrisy,  lust,  and  blood,  I  was  rather  a  believer 
than  otherwise  during  the  earlier  part  of  my  Canadian  visit. 

True  the  tale  was  most  revolting,  and  it  was  not  a  little  difficult 
to  bring  the  mind  to  believe  it  possible,  that  even  the   most  har- 
dened of  our   species  could  be  guilty,    from  year  to  year,  of  the 
frightful  abominations  charged  by  JNIiss  Monk  upon  the  priests  f.nd 
nuns  of  Montreal — much  less  that  the  professed  ministers  of  the 
Christian   religion, — of  any   faith, — however  wii'i  iy  they   might 
have  strayed  from  the  truth,  or  however  deeply  !(  en  plunged  in 
error,  or  however  much  involved  in  the  gross  and  mystical  fanati- 
cism of  the  "  scarlet  lady" — could  hare  been  guilty  of  the  horrible 
successions  of  crimes  imputed  to  them.      Still  more  difficult  was 
it  to  suppose   it  possible   that    woman,  gentle   woman — who  had 
sought  in  solitude  a  protection  against  the  corruptions  and  temp- 
tations of  the  world — assuming  a  name  indicative  of  purity  as  well 
us  its  garb — could  resign  themselves  by  whole  communities,  as  the 
ready  and  willing  instruments  of  lust  and  murder.     But  on  the 
other  hand,  my  prejudices  against  the  Catholic  faith  were  strong. 
Its  monstrous  corruptions  in  the   old  world  were  notorious.     The 
work  of  Maria  IMonk  I  knew  to  have  been  written  by  one  of  our 
most  estimable  citizens — a  gentleman  of  character  and  approved 
christian  piety — who  had   taken  every  pains,  as  he  supposed,  to 
record  the  exact  truth.     I  knew  from  his  own  lips,  that  ho  was  a 
religious  believer  of  all  that   he  had   thus   wiitten.     I  knew  that 
Other  intelligent  and  pious  gentlemen,  had,  by  repeated   examina- 
tions, endeavored   to  detect  the  girl's  imposture,  if  impostor  she 
Was,  without  success.     I  knew  that  these  men,  and  multitudes  jf 
others,  were  firm  believers  in  the  truth  of  her  revelations.     I  had 
heard  that  emissaries  from  the  priests  were  |)rowIing  about   New 
York,  and  that  several  attempts  had  been  made  to  spirit  the  poor 
pirl  away,  and  bring  her  once  more  forcibly  within  their  power  at 
jMonHeal.     I   had   heard  of  hor  repeated  ofi'ers  to  go  to  Montreal 
*nd  establish  tho  truth  of  her  disclo^uies  by  examinations — which 

2 


*ilMHll444^ 


17  rrwwnjMttMMtfriff 


10 


) 


proposiliuiis  had  been  refused.  1  had  boon  taught  to  regard  the 
mysterious  silence  of  the  accused  as  ominous  of  evil,  and  had  been 
.issured  by  numerous  publications,  that  circumstances  numerous 
and  strong  had  transpired,  going  to  show  that  extensive  alterations 
within  the  nunnery,  had  been  made,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 
detection,  should  an  examination  ever  take  place.  A  variety  of 
incidents,  moreover,  had  been  communicated  to  me  as  facts,  while 
on  the  way  to  Montreal,  which  had  materially  strengthened  the  im- 
pression upon  my  mind,  arising  from  this  formidable  array  of  cir- 
cumstances, until  I  had  almost  arrived  at  the  belief,  that,  after  all, 
there  might  be  more  of  truth  in  the  tale  than  I  had  been  willing 
at  hrst  to  admit. 

I  soon  ascertained,  however,  that  such   was  by  no  means  the 
opinion  of  the  citizens  of  JNlonireal.     I  did  not  indeed  expect  to 
find  the  people  generally,  or  even  the  h;df  of  them,  believers  in 
the  entire  revelations  of  the  fair  fugitive.   But  having  been  assured, 
from  time  to  time,  by  the   publishing  friends  of  the   interesting 
victim,  that  her  work  was  causing  some  excitement  in  that  capital, 
and  that  the  army  of  believers  would  be  vastly  greater  but  for  the 
terror  in  which  the   Protestants  were  held  by  the  Romanists,  and 
the  danger   tliey   would  incur  by  the  expression   of  any  opinion 
unfavorable  to  them,  1  did  expect  to  meet  now   and  then  with 
some  one  courageous  believer,  with  a  nniltiuide  of  others  stealing 
timidly    along,    looking    unutterable   things,   and    shivering   and 
sliudd(.'ring  at  every  a|)parition  of  cowl   and  cassock   as  though 
expecting  every  moment  to  be  seized  and   pulled  to  pieces  with 
hot  pincers.     Hut  it  was  not  so.     Such  a  city  of  sceptics,  in  all 
that  pertained  to  the  disclosures  of  the  wronged  frail  one,  was  never 
bel'ore  senn.     Nay,  more,   so   perlectly  absurd  and  ridiculous  did 
the  p(;ople  with  one   accord   consider  the   whole  alfair,  that  they 
secMiied  to  look  upon  the  intelligent  dcni/ens  of  the  United  States* 
as  laboring  under  a  widely  extended  monomania  !     There  was  but 
one  voice   upon  the  subject — protestants  and  catholics — those  ol 
every  and  all  denominations,  born  and  bred  upon  the  spot — men 
of  iiit(>Hiucnce  and  uti<|uestioned  piety — those  who  had  f)assed  the 
o;)en  gates  ef  the    Hotel  Dieii,  or  looked   fronj   their  casementa 
over  its  frowning  walls  every  day  of  their  lives — were  all  stubborn 


unbelievers 
that  I  was  a| 
in  Montreal 
denily  alrail 
tual  demouj 

But  the 

the  narrati^ 

take  a  sur\| 

mities  wen 

twice  the   nl 

who  were  nj 

supposed  ;ui 

tion  and  aci 

of  numbers 

l*erha|)s  up 

C'atholic  es 

fearful  Ilote 

to  come. 

The  frier 
President  of 
to  whose  k 
visit  was  to 
the  (irey  Si 
Youville,as 
'  aged.     It  o< 
Pierre,  by  i 
residence  ot 
ve(p»isitc  olli 
building  for 
convent  is 
passed  ihroi 
kepi.     BotI 
blind,  and 
were  many 
versed,  had 
at  the  advi 
born  in  tin 


m.fmfffnjnmmKrf<»^^W 


lii«iilt^HiiM|^ 


i 


11 


I  regard  the 
d  had  been 
s  minierous 
alterations 
preventing 
L  variety  of 
facts,  while 
ned  the  im- 
rray  of  cir- 
it,  after  all, 
eon  willing 

means  the 

I  expect  to 

jolicvors  in 

en  assured, 

interesting 

hat  capital, 

but  for  the 

anists,  and 

ny  opinion 

then  with 

!rs  stealing 

Ming   and 

as  though 

ieces  with 

•tics,  in  all 

was  never 

ctdous  did 

that  they 

od  States* 

re  was  but 

those  ol 

pot — men 

»assed  the 

caseiiienta 

1  stubburu 


linbelievers  ; — and  I  may  add  in  this  place,  instead  of  elsewhere, 
that  I  was  able  to  hear  of  two  believers  in  llic  "  Awliil  DisclosiMes"' 
in  Montreal,  one  of  whom,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel,  was  evi- 
dently afraid  to  visit  the  nunnery,  lest  ho  siioukl  bo  forced  by  ac- 
tual demonstration  to  cliango  his  opinion  ! 

JJut  the  tact  that  tlu;  whole  town  and  province  disbelirved 
the  narrative  of  Miss  Monk,  was  no  good  reason  why  1  should  not 
lake  a  survey  of  the  cstablishmnnt,  in  which  the  reported  enor- 
mities were  occurrliiti— niore  especially  as  there  weni  at  lea^t. 
twice  the  number  on  tlio  Yankee  side  of  the  line,  (that  is  to  hr) 
who  were  most  devout  believers  of  tiie  whole.  And  as  lor  any 
supposed  advanta'jes  derived  by  the  formei  iVom  their  near  loca- 
tion and  actiuaintancesliip  with  iIk;  accused,  did  not  the  increase 
of  nund)ers  on  the  other  side,  brin.'j^  the  haUinfo  to  a  equipoise? 
I'erhaps  npt :  but  F  was  determined  in  any  event  to  visit  the 
('atholic  establishn)ents  uenerally,  and  look  as  closely  into  the 
fearful  Hotel  Dieu  as  the  guardians  of  its  portals  would  allow  me 
to  come. 

The  friends  accompanying  us  were  John  Frothinfrham,  Esq., 
President  of  the  City  Bank,  of  Montreal, and  Duncan  I'islier,  I'.sq., 
to  whose  kind  attentions  we  were  greatly  indebtc'd.  Our  fust 
visit  was  to  the  Hospital  (iencral  des  Staiirs  (irises,  a  convent  of 
the  Grey  Sisters — an  institution  founded  in  1750,  by  Madame  do 
Youville,  as  a  refuge  for  the  infirm  poor,  for  invalids,  and  the  destitute 
aged.  It  occupies  a  space  of  678  feet  along  the  little  river  St. 
Pierre,  by  nearly  the  same  depth,  containing  a  convent  for  the 
residence  of  the  nuns,  a  depot,  ample  wards  for  both  sexes,  all  the 
re(juisite  olficcs  for  such  an  extensive  establishment,  and  a  detached 
building  for  persons  laboring  under  diseases  of  the  mind.  This 
convent  is  governed  by  a  su[)erior  and  thirty-four  sisters.  We 
passed  throu<fh  the  wards,  which  were  spacious,  and  well  aired  and 
kept.  Both  (l(3j)artn>ents  were  iilled  with  the  lame,  the  halt  and  the 
blind,  and  every  species  of  decrepitude,  and  among  iIk;  subjects 
were  numy  who  were  very  old.  One  of  these,  with  whom  we  con- 
versed, had  not  only  been  many  years  an  inmate,  but  was  chcerl'ul 
at  the  advanced  a}»o  of  one  hundred  and  four  years — having  been 
born  in  the  snme  year  with  Washington.     The^eyes  of  liie  old 


'iii  'KS  7;  I- HTffUfiBl'WWWC 


12 

centenarian  brightened  at  the  recollection,  as  though  it  was  no  mean 
honor  even  to  have  drawn  his  first  breath  in  the  same  year  with 
such  a  man.  It  was  a  graii(\  ]\i<^  spectacle  to  obsorve  the  kindness 
and  attention  received  by  these  aged  and  infirm  i'cllow-beings  whom 
misfortune  had  thrown  upon  the  benevolence  of  this  community  : 
and  however  much  we  may  deplore  the  errors  of  their  religious 
faith,  we  could  not  but  admire  their  zeal  in  alleviating  the  dis- 
tresses of  suffering  humanity. 

From  these  apartments  we  were  next  led  into  the  rooms  oc- 
cupied as  an  orphan  asylum,  or  foundling  hospital — I  am  not 
certain  which  ;  perhaps  both.  In  the  first  division  we  found  twenty 
or  thirty  boys  of  ten  years  and  under,  and  a  like  number  of  girls 
in  the  second.  They  were  all  cheerful,  but  much  more  vivacity 
was  exhibited  in  the  second  ;  characteristic  alike  of  females  and 
the  French.  In  each  of  the  apartments  visited,  articles  of  fancy 
needlework  were  produced,  sales  of  which  are  made  to  visiters  for 
the  benefit  of  the  institution. 

We  entered  the  Grey  Nunnery  at  11  o'clock;  just  as  the  sis- 
ters had  gone  to  dinner.  The  nuns  and  the  priests,  at  the  semi- 
nary, dine  at  the  same  hour.  They  take  a  very  light  breakfast 
at  half  past  4,  consisting  of  a  piece  of  bread  and  cup  of  tea  ;  dine 
at  11,  and  are  summoned  to  the  chapel  for  their  mid-day  devo- 
tion at  12.  With  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  we,  by  request,  were 
conducted  to  the  chapel  ;  where  the  nuns,  having  entered  first, 
were  already  upon  their  knees  in  a  column  of  two  deep  in  the 
centre  aisle.  They  told  their  beads,  and  repeated  their  prayers 
in  chorus,  and  havitig  concluded,  rose  at  a  signal  from  the  superior 
in  the  gallery,  wheeled  round  to  the  right  and  left,  and  returned  ; 
scarce  raising  their  eyes  from  the  polished  flour.  They  were  ge- 
nerally middle-aged  or  young  women. 

The  habit  of  the  grey  sisters  consists  of  a  dress  of  drab  bomha- 
xine,  made  in  the  fashion  of  our  Quaker  friends,  only  that  the 
sleeves  are  long  and  ample,  a  la  Bishop^  terminated  with  broad 
culTs  of  the  same  material.  They  wear  a  black  Italian  crape 
cap,  with  a  plain  border  of  crape,  lined  with  black  silk.  This 
cap,  too,  is  after  the  Quaker  fashion.  While  in  the  nunnery,  I 
observed  that  the  skirt  is  always  turned  up,  and  fastened  under  the 


« 


waist  bet 
going  in  p 
were  not  t 

The  clu 
none  of  w 
The  altar 
freshly   ga 
fragment 
I  do  not 
framed  wit 
There  an 
worship,  a; 
of  tlie  con' 
gin  were  ll 
of  both  nu 
of  gold  an( 
ing  to  the 
honor  of  tli 
representat 
inspire  mos 
adoration  w 
glory,  and 
oj)portunity 
against  alio 
the  Trinity 
ing  the  Sav 

From  the 
"  Awful  E 
which,  from 
in  this  cil) 
by  "  gorgon 
broad  and 
kind  com[)ti 
time,  these 
A  very  civi 
the  hospital 


witriimiiimi**w«Mwiwui.».i<'.u» 


•fUUai^ 


13 


as  no  mean 
year  with 
e  kindness 
ings  whom 
mmunity  : 
i"  religious 
g  the  dis- 

rooms  oc- 
■I  am  not 
md  twenty 
3r  of  girls 
e  vivacity 
males  and 
s  of  fancy 
visiters  for 

as  the  sis- 
the  semi- 
breakfast 
tea  ;  dine 
lay  devo- 
lest,  were 
red  first, 
p  in  the 
prayers 
superior 
returned ; 
were  ge- 

bomha- 
that  the 
th  broad 
m  crape 
K.  This 
nnery,  I 
nder  the 


waist  behind  with  a  hook  and  eye.  We  saw  ihom  afterward 
going  in  procession  to  the  cathedral,  and  then  the  skirts,  I  bcliiive, 
were  not  thus  tinned  uj);  but  am  not  quite  certain. 

The  clni|)cl  is  avery  neat  a[)iirtnient,  well  supplied  with  picture?, 
none  of  which  arc  good,  and  for  the  most  pnrt  tlioy  are  very  bad. 
The  altar  was  richly  gilded,  and  adorned  with  vases  of  various 
freshly  gathered  flowers.  Among  the  relics  displayed,  was  a 
fragment  cut  from  the  veil  of  the  sacred  statue  of  the  X'irgin,  if 
I  do  not  misrecollect ;  of  very  great  anticjuity.  It  is  carefully 
framed  within  glass,  together  with  the  certificates  of  its  authenticity. 
There  are  various  other  emblems  used  in  the  Calliolic  nsodc  of 
worship,  as  well  in  the  Chapel  as  in  all  the  principal  d('()artmcnts 
of  the  convent;  among  which  crucifixes  and  i)icturcs  of  the  Vir- 
gin were  the  most  frccpient.  In  several  of  the  rooms,  moreover, 
of  both  nunneries,  were  waxen  dolls,  dressed  out  in  tawdry  finery 
of  gold  and  silver  lace,  ribbons,  spangles,  llowers,  A:c.,  accord- 
ing to  the  different  tastes  of  the  nuns  who  had  made  them  in 
honor  of  the  infant  Saviour.  To  devout  Protestant  eyes  such 
representations  cannot  but  be  viewed  with  regret,  as  calculated  to 
inspire  most  grovelling  and  unworthy  ideas  of  the  great  object  of 
adoration  who  was  declared  to  be  "  the  brightness  of  his  Father's 
glory,  and  the  express  image  of  his  person."  I  took  a  suitable 
oj)portunity  to  remonstrate  with  one  of  their  higher  ecclesiastics, 
against  allowing  such  unworthy  emblems  of  the  second  person  in 
the  Trinity  ;  but  he  said  if  the  nuns  chose  that  method  of  honor- 
ing the  Saviour,  it  was  at  least  harndess.     I  thought  difieiently. 

From  the  Grey  Nunnery  wc  drove  to  the  terrible  theatre  of  the 
"  Awful  Disclosures  " — the  Hotel  Dieu  itself-— the  portals  of 
wiiich,  from  the  publications  of  Maria  Monk  and  her  collaborateurs 
in  this  cily,  we  might  very  well  have  expected  to  find  guarded 
by  "  gorgons,  hydras  and  chimeras  dire."  But  it  was  not  so.  The 
broad  and  ample  gate-way  into  the  yard  was  wide  open,  as  our 
kind  comi)anions  assured  us  it  always  had  been  during  the  day- 
time, these  thirty  years — and  how  much  longer  they  could  not  tell. 
A  very  civil-spoken  man  met  us  at  the  door  and  conducted  us  into 
the  hospital.     This  now  so  celebrated  institution  fronts  upon  St. 


14 


\ 


IPaiil  street,  on  the  east,  oxtondincr  alon^  that  street  324  English 
feet,  by  4G8  feet  in  depth  on  St.  Jo.seph  street,  from  which  lattci* 
wo  entered.  The  whoU'  hiiildiii'js  behMi'jini:  to,  and  connected 
with  the  establishment,  inchido  tlie  hospital,  the  convent,  or  clois- 
ter, a  chapel,  kitchen,  l)ake  house,  stablos  anrl  a  cemetery.  A 
large  garden  is  likcwis(i  attached.  It  was  foujided  in  1664,  by 
he  Dntchess  of  Bouillon — as  a  hospital  for  the  reception  of  the 
sick  and  diseased  poor  of  both  sexes,  and  without  regard  to  reli- 
gious creeds,  and  is  condurtcd  by  a  Superior  and  thirty-six  nuns. 
Its  funds  are  chiedy  derived  from  some  landed  estate  belonging  to 
it,  but  the  income  is  scarcely  suflicient,  and  contributions  from 
other  sources,  together  with  the  avails  of  their  own  industry,  help 
to  augment  their  means  of  sup|)ly. 

Nothwithstanding  the  favorable  appearance  of  all  that  we  saw^ 
nnd  the  universal  scepticism  before  sj)oken  of  existing  among  the 
people,  [  camiot  deny  the  fact,  that  the  publications  already  re- 
ferred to,  had  in  some  degree  prejudiced  our  minds  against  the 
inmates,  and  rendered  us  susj)icious  of  almost  every  thing  we 
Were  to  see.  On  entering  the  lirst  ward,  Mr.  F.  enquired  of  the 
nurse  in  attendance  for  Bliss  Beckwith,  one  of  the  sisterhood  who 
speaks  English,  and  with  whom  he  was  acquainted.  After  a  few 
moments  she  came  and  we  were  introduced  to  her.  She  received 
us  with  great  kindness.  Her  whole  appearance  is  extremely 
agreeable.  She  conducted  us  to  the  chapel,  through  both  wards 
of  the  hospital,  and  through  the  apothecary's  apartment.  Every 
variety  of  disease  finds  alleviation  here — without  any  question 
being  asked  as  to  sect,  or  country.  If  laboring  under  a  disease 
which  is  not  contagious  the  patient  is  received  on  application,  and 
when  restored,  is  dismissed  without  any  contpensation,  or  any 
questions  being  asked.  The  beds  and  rooms  were  in  perfect  or- 
der, each  bearing  the  name  of  a  Catholic  saint  ;  a  male,  if  in  the 
men's  apartment,  and  female  in  that  of  the  women.  The  sick  lay 
quietly  in  their  respective  beds,  neatly  curtained  ;  looking  as  if 
the  hand  of  friendship  and  female  symj)athy  had  smoothed  and  ar- 
ranged them.     All  was  still  and  serene. 

Can  these  walls,  thoiight  F,  witness  so  much  self-denial  and  pa- 
tknee,  so  murh  toil  ;ind  wfitrhing,  without  expectation  of  fee  or 


reward  on 
it  is  a  sh; 
as  these 
good,  whi( 
bable — is 
criminal  s( 
upon  case; 
too,  whicl 
its  subiect> 
conceals  ji 
offend?  Ai 
feeling  ex 
a  permanc 
release  tlu 
F.  mentioi 
if  she  kne 
reputed  ai 
possible  til 
of  ])atient> 
book,  thou 
said  she  1 
that  time 
that  withir 
often  inqu 
She  told 
she  had  be 
excited  so: 
told  her  si 
selves  of 
Magdalen 
Hay  was 
foruKirly  1 
It  was 
Imderstooi 
of  the  "  A 
she  had  ni 
of  its  noi 


pti(M4MUtVi(tl(Utnm4timiit'tiri>tiii4^ 


IHWiftPlfNMwiPaHM^ 


14  English 
■liich  lattci* 
connected 
t,  or  clois- 
letery.  A 
1  1664,  bv 
ion  of  the 
rd  to  reli- 
'-six  nuns, 
jlonsfing  to 
tions  from 
istry,  lielp 

It  we  saw, 
iinong  tho 
1  ready  re- 
gainst  the 
thing  we 
red  of  the 
hood  who 
fter  a  few 
i  received 
extremely 
3th  wards 
.     Every 

question 

a  disease 

ation,  and 

1,  or  any 

erfect  or- 

ifin  the 
!  sick  lay 
iing  as  if 
d  and  ar- 

I  and  pa- 
of  foe  or 


15 


reward  on  earth,  and  yet  bo  the  abode  of  vice  and  prolligacy  which 
it  is  a  shame  even  to  name?     Is  it  possible  for  beings  depraved 
as  tiiese  have  l)een   reported  to  be,  to  lind  that   i)leasm-e  in  doinj^ 
good,  whicli  sustains  them  amidst  all  their  privations?     Is  it  pro- 
bable— is  it  at   all  reconcilable — that  persons   living   in  habits  of 
criminal  sensuality,  can  be  foimd  so  disci|)lined  in  spirit  as  to  attend 
upon  cases  of  disease  most  revoltiuL'^,  and  for  that  class  of  society, 
too,  which  exhibits  disease  in  its  most   revoltin<r  features,  because 
its  subjects  are  destitute  of  refmed  fecliuGrs,  and  that  delicacy  which 
conceals  as  much  as  possible  what  has  a  tendency  to  disgust   or 
offend?  And  this  course  of  conduct  is  not  an  occasional   gush  of 
feeling  exhibited  before  the  world  for  effect,  but  is  undertaken  as 
a  permanent  emj)loymeiit,  from  which  sickness  or  death  only  can 
release  them.     As  these  thoughts   passed   through  my  mind,  Mr. 
F.  nu>ntioned  INIiss  Monk's  book  to  Miss  Reckwith,  and  asked  her 
if  she  knew  the  lady  who  had  written  it.     She  replied  that  the 
reputed  author  never    had  been  there    as  a  nun,  though  it  was 
possible  that  she  misrht  have  been  in  tho  hospital,  as  the  names 
of  patients  were  never,  inquired.     She  said  she  had  not  read  the 
book,  though  she  had  heard  of  many  things  contained  in  it.     She 
said  she  had  herself  taken  the  veil  ten  years  since,  and  during 
that  time   had  never  heard  of  Maria  Monk.     She  then  observed 
that  within  the  Inst  few  months  strangers  visiting  the  hospital  had 
often  inquired  if  there  was  a  nun  with  them  named   .rane  Ray. 
She  told   them  she  never  had  henrd  of  one  by  that  name  since 
she  had  been  there,  but  the  question  being  so  often  put,  at  length 
excited  some  curiosity,  and  in(luc(Hl  her  to  ask  the  Superior,  who 
told  her  she  bad  never  been  there,  and  tliciv  then  bethought  them- 
selves  of  making  an   inquiry   of   Mrs.  M'Donel,  who   kept  the 
Magdalen    Asylum.     Mrs.  IM'D.   inunediately   replied  that   Jane 
IJay  was  then   in  her  ostablislnnent,  and  that  Maria  Monk  had 
formerly  been  an  inmate  there  also. 

It  was  then,  for  the  fust  tinu',  and  froni  Mrs.  M'Donel,  if  1 
Iniderstood  Miss  lieckw  itli  correctly,  that  they  received  intelligcMice 
of  the  "  Awlnl  Disclosures."  In  cuntinuation,  she  remarked,  that 
bho  had  never  read  tho  book  herself;  but  iVoni  what  she  had  heard 
of  its  ronleiita,  she  should  supposo  thai  no  one  could  write  such 


H5«***? 


iG 


details,  unless  very  depraved ;  and  a   pure-minded  person  could 
not  have  imagined  tliem.     When  it  was  told  licr  that  the  book  was 
believed  by  many  in  the  states,  she  said  "the  Protestants  hate 
the  Catholics  so  much,  that  they  are  willinjrto  believe  every  thing 
said  against  them."     "  I?iit,"  she  added,  "how  can  they  believe 
such  statements  as  these  disclosures,  when  Mr.  Perkins  has  ex- 
amined the  cloister, — for  he  is  a  very  decided  Protestant,  and  in 
no  wise  favorable  to  our  relij^ion."     Still,  on  asking  her  if  wo 
could   be   permitted  to  extend  our  observations  into  other  apart- 
ments, she  said  no.     This  nunnery  was  a  cloister ;  and  neither 
priest  nor  layman,  man  or  woman,  was  ever  permitted  to  enter 
farther,  unless   by  an   express   order   from  the  Bishop.     Thus  in 
part  was  the  New  York  story  confirmed,  that  no  examination   of 
the  nunnery  itself — its  heavy  iron  doors  and  dark  passages  — its 
rooms  of  prostitution  and  vaults  of  doom — would  be  allowed. 

In  closinof  this   account  of  our  first   visit,  however,  I  must  bo 
permitted  rn  passant  to  note  the  fine  condition  and  beautiful  order 
of  the  apothecary's  apartment.     It  is  extensive  and  arranged  in 
a  manner  that  would  qladden  the  sisrht  of  the  New  York  college 
of  Pharmacy.     The  jars  and  {gallipots  are  all  of  the  ancient  trans- 
lucent dark-hhie  and  white  china,  of  the  same  size  and  pattern, 
rendering  the  shelves  perfectly   uniform.      Nothing  could  have 
been  more  neatly  and  beautifully  arranged  than   the  various  arti- 
cles making  up  the  assortment  of  medicinal  preparations  in  this 
department.     The  retorts,  bottles,  vials,  and  a  hundred  descrip- 
tions of  fancy  <rlass,  containing  drops,  extracts,  essences,  solutions, 
&c.,  «fcc.,  comprisiu'f  an  ample   store  for  every  bodily  ache  and 
evil  "  which  flesh  is  heir  to,"  were  disposed  with   the  nicest  taste 
and  skill.     Two  of  the  nuns  are  in  constant  attendance  on  this 
establishment,  manufacturing  and  prepariuGf  medicine.     They  also 
cup  and  bleed.    The  physician  in  attendance  merely  prescribes, 
and  they  execute  his  orders.      Two  of  the  nuns  are  also  in  con- 
stant attendance  upon  each  ward  of  the  hospiial,  ni^iit  and  day; 
they  take  their  turns,  and  in  a  community  of  only  thirty-six,  the 
occasion  does  not  seldom  come  round. 

Thus  ended  our  first  visit   to    the  Hotel    Dieu — having   seen 
nothing  of  "  masks,  hatchets,  racks,  and  vi*)ers,"  nor  experienced 


any  thin'j; 
cent  III., 
cccd  no  fii 
and  myste 
lievers  in 
might  have 
some  prett 
beds,  for  a 
ceeded  ncx 
north,  on  t 
street,  and 
the  8emiiia 
intennediat 
fice,  and  is 
world,  and 
old  in  into 
'234.     It  wc 
to  the  Virgi 
chltccturo  ij 
massive   toi 
25  feet  wid- 
east  windov 
broad.     Tl 
by  u  fine  te 
are  compar 
to  the  cxtei 
dor  of  decc 
of  Uallinioi 
Baltimore, 
persons.  IM 
place,  will 
noble  cdifi* 
ment  of  w 
the  Cathcd 
Ration  as   1 
small  fur  tl 


WifmjfHii?V-'til'<'H«l'T>)<r^M)l>(V«t<m4>t»i.l'Uui  .1 ,  ;«^ 


rir-ia 


jrsoii  could 

le  book  was 
slants  hate 
every  thing 
loy  believe 
ns  has  ex- 
ant,  and  in 
her  if  we 
iher  apart- 
nd  neither 
d  to  enter 
Thus  in 
lination  of 
iages  — its 
owed. 
I  must  be 
tiful  order 
ranged  in 
rk  colleffe 
ent  trans- 
pattern, 
uld  have 
ious  arti- 
s  in  this 
descrip- 
olutions, 
iche  and 
est  taste 
on  this 
hey  also 
?scribes, 
n  con- 
id  day ; 
■six,  the 


g   seen 


riencud 


17 


any  thinn;  to  remind  us  of  the  snnrtvm  officiinn,  of  Pope  Inno- 
cent III.,  or  of  Tor(|ncniada.  Still  wo  had  been  pcrmiftcd  to  pro- 
ceed lU)  further  than  the  hospitals — all  beyond  was  sccrol,  silent 
<)u(l  mysterious.  \Vc  had  heard  no  groans  ;  but  ronio  of  the  ])f- 
liovcrs  in  Maria  Monk  may  suppose  that  half  a  dozen  infants 
might  havo  been  very  gently  smothered,  during  our  visit,  and 
some  pretty  rebellious  nun  trodden  to  death  between  two  feather- 
beds,  for  all  that.  Nevertheless,  wo  took  our  departure,  and  pro- 
ceeded next  to  the  Cathedral  standin;^  a  few  rods  further  to  the 
north,  on  the  left  of  St.  Jose[)!i  street,  frontiu'^  upon  Notre  Dame 
street,  and  directly  upon  a  diaii^onal  line  from  the  Hotel  Dieu  to 
the  Seminary  of  the  Priests — th(i  Cathedral  well-nigh  filling  the 
intermediate  block  between  them.  The  Cathedral  is  a  new  edi- 
fice, and  is  in  some  respects  the  most  splendid  temple  in  the  new 
world,  and  as  said  a  lato  foreign  traveller,  only  surpassed  by  the 
old  in  interior  grandeur.  Its  length  is  225  feet,  and  its  breadth 
234.  It  was  conunenocd  in  1824,  finished  in  1S29,  and  dedicated 
to  the  Virgin  INIarv.  The  height  of  its  walls  is  112  feet.  Thoar- 
chitccture  is  of  the  rich  Gothic  of  tho  13th  century.  It  has  six 
massive  towers,  between  v.hirh  is  a  promenade  along  tho  roof 
25  feet  wide,  elevated  112  feet.  There  are  seven  altars,  and  tho 
east  window  behind  the  grand  altar  is  70  feet  high,  by  33  feet 
hroad.  Th(3  other  windows  are  3G  feet  by  10.  Ii  is  surrounded 
by  a  hue  terrace,  and  tho  chime  of  bells,  the  clocks,  altars,  &c. 
arc  comparatively  rich.  But  as  a  whole,  tho  interior  is  not  e(iual 
to  the  exterior,  nor  by  any  means  onual,  in  [)oint  of  taste,  splen- 
dor of  decoration,  and  beauty  of  its  j)aintings  to  tho  Cathedral 
of  Baltimore.  This  structure  is  larger,  however,  than  that  of 
Baltimore,  being  sulTiciently  capacious  to  accommodato  12,000 
persons.  My  leasonsfor  the  particularity  of  this  descrii)tion  in  this 
place,  will  appear  in  the  sequel.  I  attended  high  mass  in  this 
noble  edifice  on  two  Sabbath  mornings,  bel'ore  the  commrnce- 
ment  of  worship  in  the  protcstant  churches.  On  both  occasions 
the  Cathedral  was  filled  by  as  attentive  and  well-ordered  a  congre- 
gation as  I  have  ever  seen  in  New  "N'ork.  Tlut  organ  is  too 
'^mall  for  the  place  ;   but  aided   by   other   instruments,  and  a   full 


IH 


clidir  around  the   great  altar,  the  music  \vu!>  as  deep,  rich  and 
solemn  as  the  big  *'  base  of  the  ocean." 

The  seminary  of  St.  Sulpice,  situated  upon  the  corner  of  Fran- 
cois-Xavier  and  Notre  Dame  street,  opening  upon  the  latter,  and 
directly  west  of  the  cathedral,  was  next  visited.  This  is  the 
general  residence  of  the  priests  of  Montreal — whose  practice  i: 
is,  according  to  Maria  Monk,  to  bo  continually  visiting  the  Hoto' 
Dicu,  for  purposes  of  seduction  and  murder,  by  the  subterranear, 
passage,  which,  if  it  exists,  must  lead  directly  under  the  stupendous 
pile  of  the  cathedral,  just  described.  This  seminary  extends  342 
feet  upon  Notre  Dame  street,  and  449  on  Francois-Xavicr  street. 
It  was  founded  in  1G57,  by  the  Abbo  Quctus,  who  was  sent  out  by 
the  seminary  of  St.  Suli)ico,  in  Paris.  The  original  object  of  the 
institution  was  the  education  of  youth,  thront.di  all  departments,  in- 
cluding the  higher  branches  of  philosophy  and  maihojuatics.  It 
has  an  able  superior,  and  professors  of  cminenco  in  the  diflbrent 
sciences,  who  are  said  to  pursue  a  judicious  plan  of  general  in- 
struction. In  order  to  extend  its  usefulness,  a  new  college  has 
been  erected  by  the  seminary  in  the  RecoUet  suburbs — a  large 
and  handsomo  structure. 

I  was  introduced,  at  the  Seminary,  to  many  of  the  clergy,  am' 
some  of  tho  dignitaries  of  the   church — among  whom  were  the 
lord  bishop  M'Donald  of  Upper  Canada  and  the  bishop  of  llec 
River,  both  being  on  a  visit  to  the  lower  province.     I  was  also 
introduced  to  Father  Richards,  who  figures  in  the  "  Awful  Dis- 
closures" as  one  of  tho  most  humane  of  the  priests  at  the  murder 
of  tho  nun  St.  Francis. — Father  Richards  is  a  short  fat  personage, 
has  a  mild  blue  eye,  and  is  exceedingly  fair-spokon.  He  was  once 
a  mcthodist  minister  in  Virginia;  but  conceiving  the  project  oi 
converting  tho  catholic  clergy  of  Montreal  to  tho  true  faith,  ho 
proceeded  thither  for  that  purpose.     IJut   in  the  cud  he   was  as 
badly  oft'  as  tho  count  O'Reilly,  who  went  to  take  Algiers — Al- 
giers took  him  !     Bishop  M'Donald  is  a  Scotch  gentleman  of  the 
old  school;  affable,  intelligent,  and  for  a  Catholic,  not  intolerant. 
He  allows  his  people  to  read  the  Bible,  and  gives  away  all  that 
he  can  obtain  lor  that  object.     In  passing  down  the  St.  Lawrence 
with  him  to  Quebec,  I  i'oum]  him  to  be  a  most  agreeable   travell 
•ng  companion 


Tho  subj 
introduced 
entered  frej 
scioiis  inuoj 
or  about,  li 
niont,  the  i; 
ccrity,  an  1| 
sion  to  visil 
ropeatod  \\\ 
could  be  1)1 
tlio  I>is!io[)l 
But  Bisho; 
my  views,  : 
sary  order, 
that  my  on! 
upon  the  di 
work  of  it. 
The  mor 
seem,  that  t 
investigatio 
previous  do 
and  unconn 
the  priests 
tices  imput 
contrary,  tl 
slander,    w 
or  the  disti: 
iVuiliy,  sho 
much  entit 
'     could  not  I 
to  mako  u 
only  arrive 
to  aid  in  g 
rection.     t 
the  irutb, 
\v()uld   bo 
villnuv.     1 


(tfllBlBtlrtgiwtuUtBUtU^wiiu^in.tt*!.. 


iiinntHil 


ep,  rich  and 

•nor  of  Fran- 
le  latter,  and 
Tliis  is  tli( 
a  practice  i; 
ig  the  Hoto' 
5uhtcrrancar/ 
c  stupendous 
extends  342 
Lavicr  street. 
s  sent  out  by 
object  of  the 
irtments,  in- 
enialics.  It 
the  dKiiM-ent 
general  in- 
college  lias 
bs — a  large 

clergy,  anc' 

u  were  tin 

lop  of  Ret 

I  was  also 

Vwful  Dig. 

the  murder 

personage, 

e  was  once 

project  01 

0  faith,  ho  * 

le  was  as 

giers — Al- 

man  of  the 

intolerant. 

ny  all  that 

Lawrence 

e   trnvell 


19 

Thn  subject  of  jMiiri  Mnnk'-^  "Awful  Pi  .rldsuios"  having  been 
iiilroiluoed  at  tlio  Seminary,  tlmsc  of  tlie  clcrcy  v.hoepokc  English 
entered  freely  upon  it,  without  hesitation,  and  with  an  air  of  con- 
scious innocence,  llavin-'  intim;ited  tluU  there  was  notliin<r  of,  in, 
or  about,  Iho  Hoto!  Diou,  respecting  whicii  they  desired  conceal- 
ment, the  idea  lirst  Korlou-.!y  occuncd  to  nu)  of  [>uttitig  their  sin- 
<erity,  and  t!iat  of  t!:o  nuns,  to  the  lest,  by  applyiufj  lor  permis- 
sion to  visit  t!ie  cloister,  and  make  a  liiorou;,di  scrutiny.  Thoy 
repeated  what  had  been  said  to  us  by  the  nuns,  that  no  person 
could  i)f!  permitted  to  enter  tlic  cloister  without  an  order  from 
tiie  Risliop  of  IMontreal,  who  was  then  al)sent  from  the  city, 
I5ut  IJishop  M'Donald  and  Father  Richards  entered  at  once  into 
my  views,  and  promised  their  good  olhces  in  obtaining  tho  neces- 
sary order,  as  soon  as  the  bishop  should  return.  I  assured  them 
that  my  only  dosiro  was  to  arrive  at  tho  truth,  and  that  if  I  entered 
upon  tho  diUy,  I  should  not  be  satisfied  without  making  thorough 
work  of  it.     And  thus  t  left  them. 

The  more  I  rellectcd  upon  tho  subject,  tho  moro  evident  did  it 
seem,  that  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice  retpiired  at  my  hands  an 
investigation  of  this  kind,  placed  thero  as  I  was,  without  any 
previous  design  of  making  such  a  visit,  and  wholly  uncommitted, 
and  unconnect(;d  with  any  of  the  parties  to  tho  controversy.  If 
the  priests  and  the  lums,  Avcro  actually  guilty  of  tho  fearful  prac- 
tices imputed  to  them,  the  truth  should  be  known.  If,  on  tho 
contrary,  tho  horrible  stories  respecting  them  were  not  true,  tho 
slander,  wlicther  originating  in  the  malice  of  a  wicked  woman, 
or  the  distempered  imagination  of  one  who  added  insanity  to  her 
frailly,  should  be  arrested.  In  any  event,  tho  Catholics  were  as 
much  entitled  to  justice,  as  any  other  sect  of  Christians;  and  I 
could  not  but  hope  and  believe,  that  in  the  event  of  being  allowed 
to  make  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  premises,  I  could  not 
only  arrive  at  a  salipfactory  conclusion  myself,  but  should  bo  able 
to  aid  in  giving  ihn  public  mind  in  my  own  country  a  proper  di- 
rection. Should  it  in  the  end  appear  that  Maria  Monk  had  told 
the  truth,  no  punishment  over  invented  by  tho  Iluli/  Inquisition 
would  bo  too  severe  for  such  lustful,  bloody,  and  hypocritical 
villaiiy-     Hut.  on  (In;  oihci  hitnd,  should  il  he  aj»|)nrer)t  rhat  they 


20 


wore  tlio  victims  of  caliimnv,  it  was  hitjli  finu;  tlint  tho  crusadi 
should  b(j  at  an  oiiJ  ;  since  1  could  ix-rccivc  iiutliiii'^  more  coin- 
nicndublo  in  Protestant,  tlian  in  Cailiolic  itcrsocution.  Eniertain- 
iuif  and  pondiriug  tlicbo  views,  Isoiiylit  and  obiaintd  an  intor\ie\v 
with  tho  Kev.  iMr.  I'eurins,  of  iho  American  Picsbyterian  churdi ; 
tho  able,  /.calous  and  pious  successor  of  tlic  himentcd  CiruisT- 
MAS  in  that  city  ;  and  a  sou  of  the  late  Hon.  Enoch  Perkins,  of 
Hartford. — Mr.  P.  warmly  approved  of  my  desif^n.  He  had 
liimself  visited  tiic  cloister,  as  one  of  a  comniitlee,  in  July,  and 
was  smarting  under  the  cruel  attacks  of  the  friends  of  iMaria  Monk 
in  this  city.  He  was  ther(;fore  exceedingly  anxious  that  I  should 
have  tho  testimony  of  my  own  senses,  to  the  correctness  of  the 
conclusions  at  which  he  had  arrived,  or  discover  to  him  his  error 
if  ho  was  wrong.  He  did  not  hesitate  to  express  to  me  his  per- 
fect conviction,  however,  that  an  examination  would  l)ring  me  to 
tho  unshaken  conclusion,  that,  however  bad  tho  Catholics  may 
1)0  in  other  res[)ccts,  or  in  other  countries,  they  arc  entirely  in- 
nocent in  tliis  matter.  There  was  no  mistake  in  his  ojiinion  upon 
the  subject.  Ho  had  resided  there  several  years  ;  was  well  ac- 
(juainted  with  the  general  character  of  the  i)riests  and  people ; 
as  also  by  common  fame  with  tho  character  of  Maria  Monk  ;  and 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  her  disclosures  the  most  entire 
and  atrocious  collection  of  lies  that  could  be  ronceivc^l.  Thus  be- 
lieving— nay,  thus  knowing — he  had  endeavored  as  strongly  as  he 
could  by  letters  to  the  writer  of  IMaria's  book,  to  j)revent  its  pub- 
lication. He  had  admonished  him  of  tho  falsitv  of  her  tales,  and 
imi)lored  him  to  desist. 

Other  gentlemen,  of  diiTercnt  churches,  wore  also  consulted. — 
Their  opinions  were  the  same,  both  as  it  respected  the  character  of 
the  disclosures,  and  the  propriety  of  my  proposed  examination. 
Tho  result  was,  that  1  resolved  on  making  the  attempt ;  and  re- 
turning to  Montreal  from  Quebec  on  Saturday  morning  the  23J 
ultimo,  I  was  informed  that  an  order  for  the  admission  of  Mr. 
Frothingham,  Mrs.  Stone  and  myself  into  the  cloister,  had  been 
issued  by  the  bishop  on  the  preceding  day.  A  gentleman  from 
llichmond,  (Ya.)  Mr.  Sliepard,  and  his  lady,  having  imderstood 
our  design,  obtained  nn  order  ihrough  a  friend,  on  that  moining, 
10  bo  permitted  to  accompany  us  in  the  visitation. 


The  edi 
m  calling 
introuucf 
gyman  rc( 
gaiion  in  t 
tleman  sho 
is  nevertiK 
justice  to 
appointed 
nie  with  a 
that  his 
opening  tli 
not  necessi 
versation  t 
cient  for  ll 
that  his  p( 
were  be  to 
pleasant  s 
somo  of  tl 
troversy  oi| 
which  he  \ 
denied  hin 
taneous  ol 
letter  was 
into  the  IN 
sion  to  sea: 
been  refu 
was  my  ir 
inationof 
1  assured 
to  make  a 
priests  lia 
end  shoul 
whole  stri 
lift  every 
door — so; 
.sago. — M 


y(it.tsttttct««|^ 


i 


21 


the  rnisadt: 

g  niort!  coin- 

Emertaiii- 

au  jiitc;r\ie\v 

rial)  churcli ; 

tCli  ClIlUST- 

i  Perkins,  of 
II.     Hu    had 
in  July,  and 
jMaria  Monk 
liat  I  should 
:tnc'ss  of  the 
im  his  error 
me  his  por- 
hring  me  to 
tholics  may 
entirely  in- 
j)lnion  upon 
as  well  ac- 
nd   people ; 
Monk  ;  and 
most  entire 
Thus  be- 
ongly  as  lie 
nt  its  pub- 
tales,  and 

[insulted. — 
laractcr  of 
aniination. 
t ;  and  ro- 
)g  the  23d 
on  of  Mr. 
,  had  been 
:'man  from 
indcrstood 
t  nioining, 


The  editors  of  the  Montreal  (Sn'.t  iU    and  the  Ami  du  Pcuplc 
in  callinif  f<;r  the  present  narrative,  liavo   hotli  taken  occasion  to 
introduce  the  name  of  the  Ilev.  Mr.  (  Iiry,  a  cftn-r'^y^ational  (Cler- 
gyman recently  from  this  state,  and  now   th*-  pastor  of  a  congre- 
Lraiion  in  that  city.     Regretting  as  1  do,  that  the  name  of  that  gen- 
tleman should  have  been  thus  brought  before   the  pnliiic,  the  (hity 
is  nevertheless  devolved   upon  mo  of  making  an  cxplaiiation,  in 
justice  to  both  of  us,   and  to  all.     On   the   morning  of  tlio  day 
appointed  for  the  exploration  of  the  nunnery,  Mr.  Clary  iavored 
me  with  a  call,  and  gave  me  the  fust  information  I  had  received, 
that  his   name   had   been  associated  with  mine,  in  the  onlcr  for 
opening  the  cloister  of  the  Hotel  Dicu  for  oui   inspection.     It  is 
not  necessary,  were  it  oven  proper,  to  give  a  detail  of  ail  the  con- 
versation that  passed  between  us.     An  abstract  will  be  all-sulli- 
cient  for  the  purpose  in  hand.     Mr.  Clary  informed  mo  frankly, 
that  his  position  was  peculiar,  and  he  seemed  apprehensive  that 
were  be  to  accept  the  invitation,   it  might  place  him  in  an  un- 
pleasant situation.     lie  said  his   name  liad  already  appeared  in 
somo  of  the  New  York  publications  in  connection  with  the  con- 
troversy on  this  subject — a  letter  of  his  having  been  published,  in 
which  he  had  declared  that  admittance  into  the  cloister  had  been 
denied  him  ;  and  he  evidently  apprehended  that  the  present  spon- 
taneous oiler  had  been  made   to  entrap  him.     He  said  that  that 
letter  was  strictly  true,  as  ho  had  once  becm  promised  admission 
into  the  Nunnery,  but  when  he  subsequently  applied  for  permis- 
sion to  search  the  building  in  company  with  Maria  Monk,  he  had 
been  refused.     Ilo   was  particularly  desirous  to  know  whether  it 
was  my  intention  to  make  merely  a  cursory  and  superficial  exam- 
ination of  the  premises,  or  to  make  thorough  work  of  it.  In  reply, 
I  assured  him  repeatedly,  that  my  determination  was  inflexible, 
to  make  as  thorough  an  investigation  as  could  be  desired — that  the 
priests  had  given  mo   to  understand  that  every  facility  for  that 
end  should  be  granted,  and  that  I  was  resolved  to  scrutinize  the 
whole  structure,  in  all  its  ramifications,  from  garret  to  cellar — to 
lift  every  trap  door — to  inspect  every  secret  vault — unbar  every 
door — search  every  cellar — and  thread  every  subterranean  pas- 
sago. — Mr.  Clary  did   not  admit  that  he  was  a  helicver  in  Miss 


titiiniitsu.^ 


OC) 


Monk's  book,  !nit  lie  \\:\-  r<vi(lontly  not  a  dishcUcvcr.  Amonp 
tlio  oltjoctions  lio  sUutc.d,  was  thn  probability  that  woro  wo  to 
muko  tl)c  \  ijit,  wo  should  ho  called  u|M)u  to  write  upon  the  subject. 
To  which  I  re[ilicd  that  I  could  perceive  no  objection  to  that; 
should  the  examination  be  full,  and  free,  and  fair,  we  could 
say  so.  And,  on  the  other  hand,  should  uc  leave  tiie  institu- 
tion unsatisfied,  there  need  bo  no  hesitation  in  proclaiming:!;  that 
fact  likewise.  IJut  ho  intimated  his  H]iprehonsions  that  wo  should 
i)c  deceived  by  the  wiles  of  those  with  whom  we  were  to  have  to 
do,  and  repeated  his  reluctance  to  place  hinlsclf  in  a  position  that 
would  compel  him  to  write  any  thing  upon  tho  subject.  Wc  j)art- 
oii  before  he  had  deternuned  what  course  to  pursue,  with  an  un- 
dcrstandinir  that  I  should  call  upon  him  in  tho  course  of  the  morn- 
ing, and  api»riso  liini  of  the  hour  of  entering  u[»on  the  investiga- 
tion. This  engagement  was  fulfdled,  but  Mr.  C.  was  undetermin- 
od  whether  to  go  or  not.  Being  very^  anxious  that  he  should  make 
one  of  the  party,  I  urged  him  to  accompany  us — but  was  obliged 
to  leave  him  again  in  a  state  of  uncertainty.  At  the  hour  appoin- 
ted he  called  at  my  hotel,  and  stated  that  on  tho  whole  lie  thought 
it  best  to  decline  the  invitation.  I  hinted  to  him  the  unpleasant 
dilemma  in  wiiich  ho  might  be  involved  by  the  refusal. — But  to  no 
pur[)osc.     lie  rctii'cd,  and  I  saw  him  no  more. 

The  hour  appointed  for  commencing  our  rcsoarches,  was  two 
o'clock,  and  the  residue  of  the  morning  was  devoted  to  tho  study 
of  the  latest  edition  of  the  "  Awful  Disclosures,"  which  is  ac- 
companied by  the  drawings  of  tho  premises  as  laid  down  in  the 
tablets  of  Maria  Monk's  memory,  and  for  a  coj)y  of  which  I  was 
ijidcbted  to  tho  politeness  of  Mr.  Clary.  A  h\v  passages  for 
special  reference  were  marked  in  pencil,  and  tho  leaves  turned 
down  at  others.  Bu^  my  determination  was  to  maku  the  oxanuna- 
tion  book  in  hand,  and  refer  to  its  pages  as  occasion  might  require. 
.Such  was  the  course  pursued. 

Punctual  to  tho  appointment,  wo  arrived  at  five  minutos  after 
two,  and  were  received  in  the  '  apothecary'  by  tlio  assistant 
superior  Miss  Weeks'  an  American  lady,  and  two  other  sisters, 
who  had  been  designated  to  attend  us.  I  in([uired  for  Miss 
Beckwith,  ;dao  from  the  IJnited  J^tnies, whose  piiients  residr  in  th(« 


neighboriioc 
made  her  an 
She  is  certal 
I  have  ever] 
pressivc  of 
voice  harnu 
presumed  fd 
were  fully 
to  test  tho 
New  York.l 
nothing  shol 
the  instituti( 
ed  of  their 
mislead  mo 
own  pleasu 
neither  dis[ 
institute  sh 
that  it  was  t 
and  that  thi 
Lady  Supei 
confined  to 
have  been 
over,  be  ha 
We  then 
joined   by 
accompani( 
their  respe 
Having  pa 
cloister,  ai 
first  story, 
readily  o[)( 
either  stot 
from  floor 
any  altcrai 
painting, 
lorgotling 
the  se(iu'e 


jtttiWit<irtUWwlUit«iii(iiW«4Ui«lii«ii;tl!i(;% 


i 


J3 


cr,     Amonc 
wore  wo   to 

tiio  subject, 
ion  to  that ; 
,    wo    could 

tijo  institu- 
ainiinjc;  that 
It  wo  should 
0  to  have  to 
position  that 
.    We  part- 
with  an  un- 
if  the  inorn- 
0  invcstiga- 
indetermin- 
hould  make 
vas  obliged 
)ur  appoin- 

lie  thought 

unpleasant 
—But  to  no 

1,  was  two 
)  tho  study 
n'cli  is  ac- 
mil  in  the 
liich  I  was 
ssagcs  for 
OS  turned 
exaniina- 
it  require. 

utes  after 
assistant 

or  sisters, 
for  Miss 

idc  ill  rhe 


neighborhood  of  Batavia;  she  was  inimediatcly  sent  for,  and  huoH 
made  her  appearance.     Our  meeting  was  like  that  of  old  friends. 
She  is  certainly  one  of  tho  most  pre|)Ossos;3ing  ladies  with  whom 
I  have  ever  met.     Ilcr  countenance  is  full  of  intoUigenco,  and  ex- 
pressive of  great  tenderness  and  symi)atliy,  and  the  tones  of  her 
voice  harmonise  with  these  qualities.      1  remarked  to  them  that  f 
presumed  from  what  had  been  dropped  at  our  former  visit,  they 
were  fully  ap[)rised  of  llie  object  of  our  call — being,  if  possiblo, 
to  test  tho  truth  or   falsehood  of  Maria  Monk's  publications  iu 
New  York.      1  informed  them   that  I  should  be  satisfied    with 
nothing  short  of  n  minute  examination  of  any  and  every  part  of 
tho  institution.     I  said  to  them,  frankly,  that  I  had  been  admonish- 
ed of  their  arts  of  deception,  and  luid  been  told  that  tiiey  wouhl 
mislead  mo  at  every  turn,  and  throw  dust  in  my  eyes  at  their 
own  pleasure ;    and  that    consoc(ucntly  I  trusted  they  would  be 
neither  displeased  nor  surprised  if  the  scrutiny  1   was  about   to 
institute  should    seem  ovor-nico    and  particular.     They  replied 
that  it  was  their  desire  to  have  the  investigation  satisfactory  to  me, 
and  that  the  keys  and  their  assistance  were  at  my  disposal.     Tho 
Lady  Superior,  (sister  Lapilleur  Devoisy,)  tlu.y  informed  mo,  was 
confined  to  her  apartment  by  indisposition — otherwise    it  would 
have  been  her  pleasure  to  receive  us  in  person.    Sho  would,  how- 
aver,  bo  happy  to  receive  us  in  her  own  apartment. 
.:      We  then  commenced  our  travels  and  researches — being  soon 
joined   by    several  additional    members  of  the    sisterhood,    who 
accompanied   us   through   our  examination.     Others  we   met  in 
their  respective   apartments,  busied  in  thoir  regular  occujiutions. 
Having  passed  through  the  hospitals   as  before,  we  entered  tho 
cloister,  and    proceeded  through  the  various  apartntents  of  the 
first  story.     Every  door,  of  every  room,  closet  and  [lantry,  was 
readily  opened  at  my  request,  and  there  was  not  an  apartment,  iu 
either  story,  which  1  did  not  examine  with  the  clos(!st  scrutiny, 
from  floor  to  ceiling,  to  note  whether  there  had  or  had  not  been 
any  alterations — any  removal  of  partitions,  c-losing  of  doors,  new 
painting,  or  suspicious    whitewashing,  or    any  such    things — not 
iorgiMling    one    truth,    inserted    by  the  nmannensis   ol    Maria,  iu 
«ho  sequel  of  her  latest  (.'dition,  that  "'  irfKitcvcy  alterations  man 


ilUiit!{f>'44i 


it 


he  alUmptcd,  there  arc  rhangcs  vhich  no  mason  or  carpenter 
can  make,  and  cffcctualhj  conceal^  But  in  this  story  there 
had  been  no  changes  of  any  kind.  The  work  and  tho  fixtures 
were  all,  evidently,  time  worn  and  ancient. 

There  were,  however,  trap-doors  in  several  of  tho  apartments — 
several  more  than  aro  specified  in  tho  drawings  of  Maria  Monk, 
Every  one  of  ihcso  trap-doors  I  opened  myself,  and  into  every 
ono  of  tho  vaults  I  descended,  sometimes  alone,  but  more  frc- 
tjuently  accompanied  by  Messrs.  Frothin<j,ham  an!  Shepard. 
These  vaults  were  usually  store-rooms  for  tho  accommodation  of 
tho  particular  apartments  immediately  above.  Every  wall  was 
carefully  examined,  both  as  to  its  appearance,  tho  texture  of  the 
mortar,  &c.  <fcc.  After  these  examinations  were  ended,  tho  sis- 
ters took  us  into  tho  yards,  and  conducted  us  into  the  cellars  and 
vaulted  rooms.  Tiie  same  scrutiny  was  every  where  made,  and 
the  texture  of  the  mortar  tried  by  an  iron-pointed  cane.  Every 
door  and  passage  way  was  opened  and  examined,  with  tho  like 
results. 

Wo   now  ro-cntcred    the  convent,  and  ascended  to  tho    next 
story,  examining  every  apartment  with  tho   most  deliberate  and 
eagle-eyed  attention.     Wo  visited  tho  cells  of  the  nuns,  and  ex- 
amined their  furniture.     The  unsophisticated  reader  may  perhaps 
think  these  "  cells"  aro  very  dark  and  gloomy  places,  with  stone 
doors,  and  locks  and   bars,  and  grates.     No  such  thing.     They 
aro  neat  little  apartments,    containing  a  single  bed  with    green 
curtains  and  counterpanes,  two  old-fashioned  high-backed  chairs, 
a  little  desk,  with  a  small  case  for  books,  and  within  which  is  also 
a  cruciOx.     Tho  books,  so  far  as  we  looked  at  them  were  such  as 
good  protestants  might  become  still  better  by  reading.     Having 
ascended  to  the  attic,  wo  had   now  ex-i mined  every  part  except 
ono  of  tho  long  attic  rooms,  into  which  I  lookinl  carefully  through 
a  glass  window  at  the  head  of  the  stairway — Miss  Weeks  having 
forgotten  to  bring  the  key  to  tho  door.     Tho  room  was  used  for 
drying  clothes,  for  •which  purpose,  as  it  was  well  lighted,  I  saw 
tho  necessary  fixtures,  and  1  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  send  thi' 
kidy  down  all  the  stairs  for  the  key. 


Tl 


Soon  aft 
sented  to  tli 
which  we  w 
irheumatism. 
somewhat  a 
urbanity,  na 
accomj)anv 
the  ease,  siiul 
bred  and  irii 
er,  posses.sin 
were  all  alia 
very  unlike 
cloister 
us  to  suppos 
children,  ort 
of  their  bodi 
costume  of  t 
The  dress  is 
sleeves;  the 
collar,  reach 
across  the  to 
-is  a  white  lin 
to  the  cye-bi 
black  veil  is 
black  Ttaliai 
way  down  tl 
veil,  nor  the 
those  of  the 
unbecoming 
In  the  re( 
four  or   five 
pleasant  wa 
them,  in  ba 
place  their 
smile  !      'n 
:on)(!  ot  the 
were   introi 


^WBBI 


I 


r  carpenter 
story  there 
tlic  fixtures 

)artments — 
^aria  Monk, 
into  every 
It  morn  fre- 
I    Sliepard. 
inodation  ol' 
•y  wall  was 
:turo  of  the 
ed,  tho  sis- 
cellars  and 
made,  and 
no.     Every 
th  tho  like 

0  tho  next 
hcrato  and 
ns,  and  ex- 
ay  perhaps 
with  stone 
ng.  They 
vith  green 
ked  chairs, 
lich  is  also 
ero  such  as 
Having 
art  except 
lly  through 
eks  having 
us  used  for 
itod,  T  saw 
0  send  the 


Soon  after  we  commenced  our  investigations,  wo  were  pre- 
sented to  the  I'ddy  superior,  at  tho  door  of  her  ai)artnient,  into 
which  we  wore  admitted.  She  was  sufl'eriiig  from  an  attack  of 
rheumatism.  She  is  a  lady  of  dignity  and  refinement  of  manner  ; 
somewhat  advanced  in  years.  She  received  us  witli  the  utmost 
urbanity,  nay,  with  cordiality  ;  and  regretted  not  being  able  to 
accompany  us  through  the  institution.  Indeed  tho  nuns  have  all 
the  ease,  simplicity,  dignity,  and  grace  which  distinguish  the  high 
bred  and  truly  genteel.  1  have  rarely  seen  so  many  ladies  togeth- 
er, possessing,  in  so  great  a  degree,  the  charm  of  manner.  The}"^ 
were  all  alfabilily  and  kindness.  Cheerfulness  was  universal,  and 
very  unlike  the  notions  commonly  entertained  of  the  "loom  of  the 
cloister.  Their  laces  were  too  often  wreathed  in  smiles  to  allow 
us  to  suppose  they  were  soon  to  assist  in  smothering  their  own 
children,  or  that  those  sweet  spirits  were  doomed  to  be  trodden  out 
of  their  bodies  by  the  rough-shod  priests  of  the  seminary.  Tlie 
costume  of  the  black  nuns  is  diO'erent  from  what  I  had  supjiosed. 
The  dress  is  of  black  bombazine,  with  ample  skirt,  and  bishop 
sleeves ;  the  neck  dress  consists  of  a  large  stpmre  white  linen 
collar,  reaching  u[)  to  tho  chin  ;  to  this  is  attached  a  strap  passing 
across  the  top  of  the  head,  to  which  the  bandeau  is  fastened.  This 
•is  a  white  linen  band  bound  round  the  forehead,  and  reaching  down 
to  the  eye-brows,  so  as  to  conceal  the  hair  entirely. — To  this  the 
black  veil  is  attached,  which  is  made  of  a  large  double  square  of 
black  Italian  crape,  and  reaches  from  the  top  of  the  bandeau  half 
way  down  the  skirt  behind.  'I'lie  face  is  not  at  all  covered  bv  (he 
veil,  nor  the  front  of  the  j)erson.  The  skirts  are  tinned  up  like 
those  of  the  grey  nuns.  The  tout  tnscinhlc.  is  dignified,  not  verv 
unbecoming  and  rather  graceful. 

In  the  recri  ation  room  wo  were  introduced  to  the  novices,  some 
four  or  fivo.  The  conversation  was  gay  and  cheerful,  and  so 
l)l()iisaiit  was  their  laughter  at  some  of  our  remarks,  that  I  asked 
them,  in  badinage,  what  right  they  had  to  laugh — that  in  such  a 
place  their  biisiniiss  must  be  to  look  grave  and  irloomy,  and  never 
smile  !  The  greater  number  of  tla;  nuns  are  advanced  in  life,  ;ind 
yome  of  them  are  V(;ry  aged,  fn  tlif  infirmary  of  th(;  clohter  we 
were   introduced    to   «|ui(e    an  -.wkA    m.-inber  of  the  community. 


26 


Although  an  invalid  for  many  years,  she  was  cheerful  and  agree- 
able ;  receiving  us  with  marks  of  kind  consideration.  Indeed  1 
have  never  witnessed  in  any  community  or  family  more  unaffected 
cheerfulness  and  good  humor,  nor  more  satislactory  evidence  of 
entire  confidence,  esteem  and  harmony  among  each  other. 

Among  the  instances  of  innocent  S[)ortiveness  which  occurred, 
proving  that  the  merry  mischief  of  woman  does  not  always  leave 
her  on  taking  the  veil,  was  the  following:   I  had  been  dili^rcntly 
looking  for  the  "  purgatory,"  as  laid  down  in  Maria's  book.     The 
sisters  told  me  I  must  find  it.     At  length  we  came  to  a  small  apart- 
ment, less   ancient  tlian  the  other  wood-work,  built  out  from  the 
wall,  in  one  corner  of  a  large  room    in   the  apartment  in  which 
the    hired    women,  seamstresses,   spinners,   &c.,   v.cre   at  work. 
The  door  was  locked  and  there  was  no  window,  except  a  sipiare 
hole  cut  through  the  partition  deals,  high  up  from  the  floor.  "  Ah," 
I  exclaimed  ;  "  Miss  Weeks  what  have  you  here?"  "  Nothing" — 
said  she  with  an  arch  smile  ; — '•  nothing — but — a  poor  nun  doing 
penance  I"  "  That  spinning  wheel,"  I  remarked,  "  would  be  pen- 
ance enough  for  many  young  ladies  in  our  country.  But  give  us  the 
keys"  "  No,"  she  said  ;  "you  must  look  for  yourself."  Taking  a 
chair,  I  thereupon  climbed  up  to  the  dark  hole,  and  thrusting  my  head 
through,  discovered  that  the  mysterious  cell  was  a  store  room  for 
loaf-sugar  hanging  round   the  walls,  and  a   few  barrels  of  other 
family  supjjlies.     And  this  was   all  tlio   "  purgatory"  discovered 
by  us. 

And  here,  j)erha[)s,  I  may  as  well  remark  as  elsewhere,  that  in 
the  course  of  our  inspection  I  took  fre(|uent  occasion  to  refer  to 
the  drawings  and  the  p;iges  of  th(;  "awful  disclosures,"  and  lam 
constrained  to  say,  that  1  was  utterly  unable,  throughout,  to  discern 
any  mark,  or  sign,  or  trace  of  resemblance  to  any  thing  she  has 
laid  down  or  describod,  other  than  the  external  localities,  which 
nobody  could  well  mistake.  IJut  so  far  as  it  regards  the  wliok 
interior,  niMther  1  nor  my  companions  could  discover,  from  the 
drawings,  the  least  evi<lonce  that  the  author  had  ever  been  within 
the  walls  of  the  cloister.  By  way  of  excusing  the  inaccuracies — 
or  rathor  the  lutal  and  all  but  univers.al  dis,,iniihirity  of  the  map — 
the  Iriends  of  Maria  first  assert  that  great  changes  have  been  made 


in  the  buildiii 
claim — "  Oh 
perfect  accui 
the  best  that 
be  replied,  v 
ria  herself,  tl 
may  be  well 
not  to  be  abl 
which  she  pr 
apartments  t 
b(!en  enacte 
that  the  onl; 
'  are  said  to  b 
Mrs.  McDoi 
visit  and  in 
closed. 

Having  de 

us  that  the 

cellar   undei 

explored.     > 

the  convent, 

my  suspicio 

that  ccdlar, 

where   we   • 

was  thereup 

was  immedi 

was  forthwit 

done,  and 

another  eel 

pari  of  the 

of  the  book, 

one  way,  ai 

asked  if  T 

but  as  it  is 

cared  about 

directed  to 

and  myself 


•v-mmsnriWimMmiKmV 


27 


nc!  agrce- 

Indccd  I 

unari'ecred 

viilunce  of 

occurrcc}, 

vays  leave 

diligently 


)()1 


Til 


le 

iiall  apart- 
I'rom  the 
in  whicli 
)  at  work. 
t  a  s(|uare 
or.  "  Ah," 
iotliing" — 
nun  doin" 
Id  be  pen- 
give  us  the 
'  Taking  a 
ng  my  head 
3  room  for 
Is  of  other 
discovered 

)re,  that  in 
to  refer  to 
'  and  I  am 
to  discern 
ng  she  has 
lies,  which 
llio  whol*! 
r,  from  the 
een  within 
curacies — 
the  map — 
:)cen  made 


in  the  building  ;  and  if  that  is  not  snfl'icient,  tiiey  imploringly  ex- 
claim— "  Oh  what  can  a  poor  girl  do  ?  W(?  do  not  pretend  to 
perfect  accuracy  — Init  she  has  given  drawings  from  recollection, 
the  best  that  were  in  her  ])ow(r."  To  tl;o  first  excuse  it  niay 
be  replied,  without  fear  of  contradiction  from  any  one  but  Ma- 
ria herself,  that  there  have  been  no  changes.  To  the  second  it 
may  be  well  said  that  the  f^irl  nnist  be  an  incorrijiiblo  blockhead 
not  to  be  able  to  remember  somewhat  of  the  interior  of  a  house  in 
which  she  pretends  to  have  been  so  long  a  resident,  and  in  some 
apartments  of  which  she  maintains  that  such  terrible  scenes  have 
b(;en  enacted.  15ut  she  does  not ;  and  it  is  a  little  remarkable 
that  the  only  internal  resemblance  to  the  diagrams  she  has  given, 
'  arc  said  to  be  found  in  the  rec{>nt  Catholic  Magdalen  asylum  of 
Mrs.  IMcDonell,  which  was  dissolved  about  a  week  before  our 
visit  and  in  which  the  celebrated  .Jane  Hay  remained  until  it  was 
closed. 

Having  descended  again  to  the  apothecary,  Miss  Weeks  informed 
us  that  the  task  was  over.  I  told  her  that  there  was  anothor 
cellar  under  the  wing  in  which  we  then  were,  which  I  iiad  not 
explored.  She  remarked  that  as  that  did  not  projierly  belong  to 
the  convent,  my  permission  did  not  extend  to  it.  For  a  moment 
my  suspicions  wore  awakened.  1  replied  that  I  must  explore 
that  c(>llar,  and  the  trap-door  which  1  had  just  discovered  near 
where  we  were,  or  my  work  was  not  done.  Miss  Beckwith 
was  thereupon  despatched  to  the  Superior  for  permission,  which 
was  inmiediately  and  readily  granted.  The  task  of  exploration 
was  forthwith  undertaken  and  executed.  It  was  most  thoroughly 
done,  and  we  were  now  about  to  take  leave,  when  I  discovered 
another  cellar  door,  leading  from  the  outside  directly  into  that 
pari  of  the  building  fron>  beneath  which,  according  to  the  plan 
of  the  book,  the  secret  subterranean  passages  lead  to  the  seminary 
one  way,  and  the  Congregational  (School)  Nunnery  the  other.  I 
asked  if  T  might  examine  that  cellar  ?  Certainly,  they  said  ; 
but  as  it  is  merely  the  kitchen  cellar,  we  did  not  supi)ose  you 
cared  about  looking  into  it.  An  Irish  laborer  near  by  was  then 
directed  to  go  into  the  kitchen  for  the  keys,  and  Mr.  Frolhingham 
and  myself  wore  inducted  by  Pat  into  the  receptacle  of  potatoes 


f^^ 


28 


,'5f;=uss;:,ii 


and  turnips — for  such  it  proved  to  be.  But  here,  true  enoufih, 
we  discovered  what  IMaria  calls  "  a  great,  gloomy  iron  door !" 
To  bo  sure,  it  was  in  (luite  a  dirfercnt  place  from  that  designated 
by  her.  But  it  was  locked,  and  would  not  yield  to  my  attempts 
upon  it.  Perhaps,  thought  I,  we  shall  fmd  the  range  of  prison  cells 
here — ])Oor  nuns  with  gags,  and  a  charnel  house  of  skeletons.  I 
told  Pat  he  must  open  that  door.  Well,  he  said,  he  must  do  it 
upon  the  other  side — and  away  he  went.  In  a  moment  more, 
the  massive  iron  turned  upon  its  ponderous  hinges,  and  lo!  we 
were — let  into  the  daylight  on  the  other  side,  in  a  store  room, 
I  believe,  n[)en  on  one  side.  There  was  also  a  kitchen  well 
in  this  cellar — small,  and  furnished  with  an  old  iron  pump,  and 
other  rather  dilapidated  fixtures.  Not  supposing  that  the  nuns 
would  throw  their  murdered  sisters  and  children  into  the  spring 
from  which  they  draw  their  water  for  their  tea  and  cooking,  I 
did  not  descend.  The  walls,  however,  as  before,  were  most 
thoroughly  examined,  into  every  nook  and  corner — and  I  was 
compelled  now  to  conclude  n)y  subterranean  researches,  without 
being  able  to  stroll  under  tho  deep  foundations  of  the  cathedral, 
and  startle  tlie  priests  of  the  seminary  by  coming  up  through  one 
of  their  own  trap-doors ! 

I  have  already  remarked,  that  the  cellars  in  general  were  used 
for  store-rooms.  In  one  of  them  into  which  I  descended  through 
a  trap-door,  1  found  a  number  of  large  stone  \\\?.s.  Recollecting 
that  IMaria  had  spoken  of  some  vessels,  which  from  her  descrip- 
tion, must  have  been  carboys  of  sulphuric  acid,  used,  as  she  inti- 
mates, with  lime,  to  destroy  the  remains  of  tho  nnirdered  victims,  I 
examined  theso  jugs.  From  the  odor  of  the  corks,  and  the  scent 
of  the  jugs  themselves,  I  presumed  their  contents  had  been  syrups, 
essences,  and  medicinal  decoctions  for  the  sick  and  tho  apothe- 
cary. The  only  limo  that  I  dku'overed,  was  in  a  hot-bed  tho 
gardener  had  been  making,  for  radishes,  I  believe. 

Thus  ended  this  examination,  in  which  we  were  most  actively 
engaged  for  about  thn.'o  h(jurs.  The  result  is  tho  most  thu/jugh 
conviction  that  JMaria  Monk  is  an  arrant  impostor — that  she  was 
never  a  nun,  and  was  never  within  the  walls  of  the  cloister  of  the 
Hotel  Dieu — and  consecjuenlly  that  her  disclosures  arc  wholly  and 


unequivocr 
of  a  distcn^ 
depravity 
Tii(!re  arel 
elusion,  thl 
even  thou| 
slumber  oi 

These  \\ 
nunnery  w; 
were  so  lol 
long  rci^nl 
first  placcJ 
character  < 
able,  that 
them.— Tl 
out  the  CO 
or  elsewhe 
credence  t 
remarks  o 
"  how  imp 
if  visiters 
ject    than 
especially 
the  public; 
she   added 
portion  of 
suffer,  and 
end."     A 
man  or  w 
institution 
all  their  ( 
others,  wl 
of  one  of 
In  ans 
Maria  Mc 
to  discovi 
has  been 


4 


29 


~uo  cnoii[rh, 

iron  door !" 

i  designated 

ny  attcni|>t3 

'  prison  cells 

keletons.     I 

must  do  it 

nicnt  more, 

and  lo!  we 

store  room, 

itclien  well 

|)iunp,  and 

at  the  nuns 

the  spring 

cooking,  I 

were   most 

-and  I  was 

les,  without 

5  cathedral, 

hrough  one 

were  used 
ed  through 
ecollecting 
er  dcscrip- 
as  she  inti- 
1  victims,  I 
d  the  scent 
?on  syrups, 
le  aj)othe- 
ot-bed  the 

St  actively 
t  thu.  ji;gh 
at  she  was 
stcr  of  the 
vhollv  and 


unequivocally,  from  h(!ginning  to  end,  untrue — either  the  vagaries 
of  a  distempered  brain,  or  a  series  of  calumnies  unecjualled  in  the 
depravity  of  their  invention,  and  unsurpassed  in  their  enormity, 
Tiiore  are  those,  I  am  well  aware,  who  will  not  ado|U  this  con- 
clusion, though  one  should  arise  from  the  dead  and  attest  it — 
even  though  "Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job"  were  to  speak  from  the 
slumber  of  ages  and  confirm  it. 

These  will  ask  why,  if  the  "disclosures"  were  not  true,  the 
nunnery  was  not  at  once  thrown  oj)en  to  the  public — why  its  doors 
were  so  long  closed,  and  why  did  silence  as  to  those  charges  so 
long  reign  within  its  walls?  There  are  several  reasons:  In  the 
first  place,  the  tales  were  so  improbable  of  themselves,  and  the 
character  of  Maria  Monk  herself  so  utterly  worthless  and  detest- 
able, that  it  was  not  doomed  necessary  to  pay  the  least  regard  to 
them, — They  did  not  suppose  in  Montreal,  either  within  or  with- 
out the  convent,  that  there  could  be  found  in  the  United  States, 
or  elsewhere,  persons  so  weak  and  so  credulous  as  to  lend  the  least 
credence  to  them.  But  the  best  answer  is  found  in  the  sensible 
remarks  of  the  nuns  themselves.  "You  see,"  said  Miss  Weeks, 
"  how  impossible  it  would  be  for  us  to  conduct  this  establishment, 
if  visiters  were  usually  admitted  into  the  cloister  for  no  other  ob- 
ject than  the  gratification  of  their  own  idle  curiosity — more 
especially  such  crowds  of  visitors  as  we  should  have  had  after 
the  publication  of  the  work."  Proceeding  with  hor  conversation, 
she  added — "  We  are  constantly  employed,  and  each  has  her 
portion  of  occu|iation.  If  our  labors  are  interrupted,  our  sick  must 
sufler,  and  the  whole  business  of  the  establishment  come  to  an 
end."  And  besides  all  this — a  man^s  house  is  his  castle,  and  what 
man  or  woman  among  us — or  which  of  our  hospitals,  or  public 
institutions,  would  consent  to  suspend  their  labors,  and  relinquish 
all  their  comforts,  to  gratify  successive  swarms  of  Canadians  or 
others,  whose  curiosity  might  be  stimulated  by  the  scandalous  tales 
of  one  of  Mr.  M'Dowell's  pupila? 

In  answer  to  my  objection,  that  the  drawnings  furnished  by 
Maria  Monk  do  not,  so  far  as  I  or  any  one  else  has  yet  been  able 
to  discover,  correspond  with  the  internal  fixtures  and  localities,  it 
has  been  said,  and  will  be  said  again,  and  again,  that  great  altera- 


•.unkiku'^ 


30 


tions  have  hcon  made  In  tlie  nuniipry — that  masons  and  carpenters 
and  painters,  liavo  boon  at  work  these  nine  months;  and  that  the 
newly  escaped  nun--(  Frances  Partridge)  declares  that  so  many  filter- 
ations  have  been  made  during  that  period,  that  she  should  scarcely 
recognize  the  flaws  herself.  To  this  I  answer,  most  emphatically, 
IT  IS  NOT  THUE.  There  have  been  no  such  alterations,  either  in 
the  l)iiildin<j[  within,  or  the  vaults  beneath,  or  the  walls  without. 
All  things  remain  as  they  were.  Let  it  here  be  borne  in  mind 
"  that  ivhatcvcr  aUcrat'tons  mail  he  affrmpfa/,  tlicro.  are.  changes 
which  no  mason  or  carpenter  can  make  and  cffeclualh/  cnnceaiy 
Impressed  with  this  truth  ;  and  it  is  almost  the  only  one  I  have 
been  able  to  discover  in  the  book,  I  went  prepared  upon  this 
point.  1  thought  it  not  unlikely  that  I  might  be  mystified  by 
paint  and  whitewash.  But  it  was  not  so.  There  is  not  an  nut- 
ward  wall,  nor  a  cellar,  nor  a  vault,  that  has  been  whitewashed. 
The  mason-work  is  all,  every  where,  of  stone-work,  ancient  and 
massive.  The  mortar,  moreover,  has  become  every  where  so  in- 
durated in  the  lapse  of  time,  as  to  be  impenetrable  as  the  stone  it 
serves  to  cement  together.  No  builder  could  break  up  an  old 
stone  wall,  or  partition,  and  remove  it,  or  stop  up  a  vault,  or 
build  up  agate-way,  without  leaving  indubitable  evidence  of  the  new 
work,  and  the  alterations.  Gould  any  builder  in  New  York  build 
up  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  Bridewell,  without  the  use  of 
paint  or  whitewash,  so  as  to  prevent  detection,  or  so  as  to  make 
the  new  work  in  all  respects  correspond  with  the  old  ?  The 
thing  is  impossible. 

Again  ;  Maria  Monk  has  laid  down  the  track  by  wdiich  she  says 
she  escaped,  and  has  given  a  narrative  of  tho  way  she  proceeded 
to  get  out,  which,  in  the  first  place,  the  walls  she  must  have 
climbed,  prove  to  have  been  impossible,  and  to  which  the  internal 
regulations  of  the  house,  as  I  believe,  give  a  positive  contradiction. 
By  the  course  she  has  marked  out  on  the  map,  she  must  have 
come  first  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  broad  gate,  always  open  in 
the  day  time,  leading  into  St.  Jose])h  street.  In  tho  yard  where 
S'.ie  then  was,  there  are  various  doors  opening  into  several  parts 
of  the  buildings.  Well— having  been  near  the  broad  gate,  she 
says  she  wheeled  round  to  the  right,  almost  crossed  her  track  in 


turning  a  u 
into  Jean  i 
probable,  hi 
W'ay.  She 
wall  some  t 
or  wonum, 

When  re 
gentlemen 
Messrs.   \'a 
resorted  to 
there  then  ; 
say  it  is  nu 
no  gate,  am 
derman  Wo 
the  City  II; 
such  works 
of  Montreal 
dilliculiy  of 
every  nun  h 
they  can  br 
health   will 
white  veil,  { 
rare.     The 

Again,  a: 
Whence  its 
hospitals  wi 
sible  ?  If  si 
led  under  th 
described, 
deep. — The 
way  existei 
ingham,  ant 
the  [)rogres 
was  ever  s 
There  was 
the  old  Fri 
constructed 


Ht^Mij^i4U«wi4f<4^i).Ui:;ii;i:it'J^'Uli:i!i!n(:uar!i!iiii, 


31 


Ciirj)pnter9 
id  that  the 
iianyJ^lter- 
1(1  scarcely 
i|)hatically, 
5,  either  in 
Is  without. 
lie  in  mind 
rp.  changes 
I  concraiy 
>nc  I  have 
upon  this 
ystilied  by 
ot  an  out- 
lite  washed, 
ncient  and 
here  so  in- 
he  stone  it 
up  an  old 
,  vault,  or 
of  the  new 
^'ork  build 
the  use  of 
s  to  make 
Id?     The 

h  she  savs 
proceeded 
uust  have 
le  internal 
tradiction. 
)ust  have 
s  open  in 
ird  where 
oral  parts 
gate,  she 
r  track  in 


turniiisT  a  w'uvz,  and  finally  escaped  throu^di  the  garden  grounds 
into  Jean  Uaptisto  street.  Now  this  whole  tale  is  not  only  im- 
probable, but  absolutely  impossible.  There  is  no  passage  that 
way.  She  must  have  leaped  a  succession  of  walls  ;  the  outer 
wall  some  twenty  feet  high  ;  walls  which  no  unaided  mortal,  man 
or  wonum,  could  have  surmounted. 

When  rcmiiidetl  of  these  facts  by  Messrs.  Jones  and  Le  Clerc, 
gentlemen  from  Montreal  who  had  an  interview  with  Maria  at 
Messrs.  Van  Nostrand  &  Dwight's  book  store,  in  August,  she 
resorted  to  the  usual  subterfuge,  that  there  were  a  door  and  a  gate 
there  then  ;  but  intimating  that  they  had  been  altered  !  Again  I 
say  it  is  not  true  !  The  walls  have  stood  a  century  ;  there  was 
no  gate,  and  no  passage-wtiy  has  been  filled  up.  As  well  might  Al- 
derman Woodruff  send  a  bev}'  of  masons  to  build  up  the  portals  of 
the  City  Hall,  and  the  people  of  New  York  not  know  it,  as  that 
such  works  could  have  been  executed  in  Montreal,  and  the  people 
of  Montreal  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  fact.  But  whence  this  great 
diiliculiy  of  escaping?  There  are  plenty  of  doors  and  gates,  and 
every  nun  has  a  key  at  her  side.  Their  restraint  is  voluntary,  and 
they  can  break  their  vow  and  retire  if  they  please.  Or,  if  their 
health  will  not  bear  the  confinement,  they  can  leave  after  tlio 
white  veil,  and  before  taking  the  black.  Such  instances  are  not 
rare.     The  whole  tale  is  one  of  falsehood. 

Again,  as  to  the  secret  passage  under  ground  to  the  Seminary. 
Whence  its  necessity,  since  the  gate  is  always  open,  and  the 
hospitals  with  communicating  doors  to  the  cloisters  always  acces- 
sible ?  If  such  passage  had  ever  existed,  it  must  necessarily  have 
led  under  the  present  foundation  of  the  stupendous  cathedral  before 
described.  The  foundations  of  this  structure  were  laid  broad  and 
deep. — They  dug  until  they  came  to  water,  and  had  such  a  path- 
way existed,  it  would  have  been  discovered  then.  Mr.  Froth- 
ingliam,  and  hundreds  of  others,  passed  the  spot  daily,  and  viewed 
the  [)rogress  of  the  workmen  contiimally.  Yet  no  such  passage 
was  ever  seen  or  heard  of.  And  there  has  been  no  filling  up. 
There  was  indeed  an  old  passage  way  to  the  river — perhaps  from 
the  old  French  church  in  ,\olre  Dame-street,  now  pidled  down, 
constructed  according  to  tradition,  for   use  in  time   of  war — per- 


IKlillf^liIg 


i 


"^ 


oi 

naps  for  tlio  procurement  of  water — but  that  has  long  years  ago 
been  filled  up.  It  was  probably  some  reminiscence  of  this  old  af- 
fair, that  gave  the  hint  for  the  story  of  the  passage  to  the  seminary. 
But  no  such  passage  exists. 

Again,  as  to  the  births  and  murder  of  children :  In  the  first 
place,  the  whole  tale  is  improbable,  both  as  to  the  murder  of 
nuns  and  infants.  Do  murderers  cluster  in  numbers  to  perpetrate 
their  butcheries,  and  thus  |nirposeIy  furnish  the  means  of  convic- 
tion \ — Would  they  be  so  foolish,  and  so  mad,  as  to  ke(>p  a  written 
record  of  their  murders  ?  And  would  so  many  mothers  consent 
to  strangle  their  own  ofi'spring  ?  Can  a  woman  forget  her  suck- 
ling child  1  It  is  not  so  !  The  voice  of  indignant  nature  rises  up 
to  proclaim  the  falsehood  I  And  moreover,  as  to  the  number  of 
novices  and  infants  :  Miss  Monk  states,  that  on  a  certain  occasrc  n, 
she  discovered  a  book  in  the  Superior's  custody,  containing  the  re- 
cord of  the  admissions  of  novices,  and  births  of  infants  who  wore 
murdered.  And  twenty-five  of  these  pages  were  written  over, 
containing  about  fifteen  entries  on  a  page.  "  Several  of  these 
pages,"  she  says,  were  occupied  with  the  records  of  the  births  of 
the  murdered  ini'ants.  And  all  the  records  were  either  of  admis- 
sions or  births.  Now,  we  will  allow  twenty  page;  ''or  the  records 
of  admissions  of  novices,  and  fivo  for  the  births  of  the  murdered 
children.  Fifteen  entries  on  a  page,  twenty  pages,  will  give 
us  the  number  of  three  hundred  admissions  in  two  years. — Now 
there  are  but  thirty-six  nuns  in  all,  and  seldom  more  than  four 
or  five  novices,  and  postulants. — Again,  as  to  the  infants — if  we 
allow  ilve  pages  to  have  been  devoted  to  these  records  of  births, 
we  havo  seventy-five  births  during  tlio  same  period  !  1  Now,  as  I 
have  already  said,  there  are  but  thirty-six  nuns  :  more  than 
half  are  "  past  age."  Certainly  not  more  than  fifteen  of  them 
could  "  in  the  natural  course  of  human  events,"  become  mothers. 
Taking  Maria's  statements,  therefore  as  correct  data,  and  each  of 
these  fifteen  nuns — striking  the  average — must  give  birth  to  two 
and  a  half  children  every  year  I  !  A  most  prolific  race,  truly!! 
What  nonsense,  and  how  great  the  popular  credulity  to  swallow  it! 

But  1  weary  in   the  exposure   of  impossibilities. — Nor  is  it  ne- 
cessary to  pruceed  farther  with  them.     I  might  indeed  write  a  vo- 


lume as  la 
inconsisten 
But  "  the 
with  the  a 
features  of 
fall  to  the  jj 
tracted  nar 
nion,  founi 
tipon  the 
Montreal— 
gelical  Chri 
[MPOST( 
TIAL    FE 
ever  guilty 
countries,  a 
I  MOST  S 
AND  NUi> 

Nevv-Yc 


Wit 

After  tht 
hands  of the 
of  Maria  M 
the  newly  ( 
who  has  an 
add  divers 
so  far  from 
written,  I  \ 
lumnies  coi 
allow  of  it 


33 


vears  ajjo 
this  old  af- 
e  seminary. 

In  tlie  first 
murder  of 
perpetrate 
of  convic- 
!p  a  written 
:.rs   consent 
t  her  suck- 
ire  rises  up 
!  number  of 


m  occas:cn, 

ning  the  rt- 

s  who  were 

ritten  over, 

'al  of  these 

lie  births  of 

'  of  admis- 

the  records 

murdered 

,   will   give 

^ars. — Now 

e  than  four 

nts — if  we 

of  births, 

Now,  as  I 

more  than 

n  of  them 

le  mothers. 

nd  each  of 

rth  to  two 

ce,  truly ! ! 

wallow  it ! 

»r  is  it  ue- 

^rite  a  vo- 


lume as  large  as  her  own,  in  the  exposure  ot  the  niidtitudinous 
inconsistencies,  and  contradictions  of  the  "  awful  disclosures." 
But  "  the  game  would  not  be  worth  the  candle."  And  besides, 
with  tho  ample  refutation  I  have  given  tlu'  L^cat  and  essentia' 
features  of  her  work,  the  minor  and  less  important  fabrications 
fall  to  the  ground  of  course.  I  will  therefore  now  close  this  pro- 
tracted narrative,  by  expressing  my  deliberate  and  solemn  opi- 
nion, founded  not  only  upon  my  own  careful  examination,  but 
upon  the  firmest  convictions  of  nearly  the  eniirc  population  of 
Montreal — embracing  the  great  body  of  tho  most  intelligent  evan- 
gelical Christians,  THAT  JMAUIA  MONK  IS  AN  ARRANT 
IMPOSTOR,  AND  HER  BOOK  IN  ALL  ITS  ESSEN- 
TIAL FEATURES  A  TISSl^E  OF  CALliM.MES.  How- 
ever guilty  tho  Catholics  may  be  in  other  respects,  or  in  other 
countries,  as  a  man  of  honor  and  professor  of  the  Protestant  faith, 
I  MOST  SOLEMNLY  RELTEVE  THAT  THE  PRIESTS 
AND  NUNS  ARE  INNOCENT  IN  THIS  MATTER. 

New-Youk,  October  8,  183G. 


INTERVIEW 

With  Mauia  Monk  and  Frances  Partridge. 

Alter  the  copy  of  tho  foregoing  narrative  was  placed  in  tho 
liaikds  of  the  printer,  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  some  of  the  friends 
of  Maria  Monk,  I  have  had  an  interview  with  her,  together  with 
the  newly  escaped  nun,  as  she  calls  herself,  Frances  Partridge, 
who  has  arrived  in  season  to  confirm  all  Maria's  statements,  and 
add  divers  other  tales  of  terror  of  her  own.  The  result  is,  that, 
so  far  from  giving  me  reason  to  alter  a  single  line  that  I  have 
written,  I  would  add  to  the  force  of  my  contradictions  of  the  ca- 
lumnies contained  in  tho  *'  Awful  Disclosures,"  if  language  would 
allow  of  it ;  for  if  I   before  had  entertained  the  least  lingering 

0 


M 


fragment  of  a  suspicion,  that  I  could  in  any  inspect  have  bocn  de- 
ceived, the  interview  would  liavo  done  all  away.  The  friends  oi 
Maria  have  looked  upon  the  arrival  and  conlimiatory  statements 
of  Miss  Partridge  as  a  god-send  :  but  if  they  arc  ever  brought  to 
their  right  minds  upon  this  subject,  they  will  lament  in  bitterness 
of  heart,  that  they  ever  had  any  thing  to  do  widi  either.  In  order 
that  the  public  may  be  enabled  to  judge  as  to  the  credibility  of 
those  wretched  women,  from  their  own  testimony,  I  proceed  to 
give  a  succinct  account  of  the  interview  referred  to.  Wo  met 
by  my  own  appointment,  (after  repeated  invitations,)  at  the  house 
of  the  Rev.  Doct.  IJrownlee,  at  half  past  4  o'clock  P.  M.  of  Fridn} 
last.  The  two  pretended  fugitives  were  attended  by  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Brownlee,  Bourne,  and  Slocum,  and  by  three  lay-gentle- 
men, who  feel  a  deep  interest  in  this  controversy,  and  of  whom 
one  was  the  writer  of  Maria  Monk's  *'  Awful  Disclosures."  There 
was  also  another  lady  present. — The  pretended  nuns  were 
seated  side  by  side,  in  close  proximity,  able  and  willing,  as  ihc 
event  proved,  to  aid  and  assist  each  other  by  suggestions  if  neces- 
sary. After  an  introdiiction  and  a  pause  of  a  moment,  the  conver- 
sation was  commenced,  I  believe,  by  the  Ivev.  Mr.  Slocum,  the 
guardian  of  Miss  Monk,  and  with  whom  Miss  Partridge  is  also 
now  residing.  Mr.  S.  began  by  a  series  of  preliminary  (luestions, 
to  the  following  clfect. 

"  You  have  recently  been  in  Montreal,  1  am  told?" 

"  Yes." 

'•  How  were  you  pleased  ?" 

"  Very  well." 

"  Did  you  sec  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clary  V 

"  Yes." 

"  I  am  surprised  that  ho  has  not  written  to  mc  :  I  have  been 
expecting  letters  from  liini  for  some  time.     Did  you  sec  much  o! 

him  r' 

"  I  saw  him  three  times." 

'*  Did  you  visit  any  nunneries'?" 

"  I  (lid." 

"  Which  of  them  ?" 

"Two  ;  tlie  (irev  Nuns,  and  the  Hotel  Oie\i." 


"  Whirl 
"  The  c( 
believe." 
"  Arc  yt 
'•  True : 
greatest  e\ 
"Well; 
"  To  till 
"  WhicI 
"  Throui 
By  Mh 
buildings  t 
"  Yes  : 
Thus  far 
liminaries 
me,    I  thin 
to  make  m 
not  the  pla 
of  the  pret 
as  follows: 
"  Gentle 
answered  tl 
matter,  nor 
ladies,  and 
is  to  arrive 
To  whic 
that  was  al 
After  a 
rassment  o 
spoke  upq 
•'  I  shou 
not  be  afri 
subject,  I 
*'  Not  s( 
not  a  grey 
Miss  M 
Wo  should 
so  long  sir 


^ffi??j 


?mi\ 


;i/ 


vo  brcii  de- 
le friends  ol 
J  statements 
r  brought  to 
in  bitterness 
r.  In  order 
redibility  ot 

proceed  to 
.  Wo  met 
at  the  house 
W  of  Friday 
)y  the  Rev. 

lay-gentle- 
id  of  whom 
es."   There 

nuns  were 
ling,  as  the 
)ns  if  ncces- 
the  conver- 
Slocuni,  tlio 
idgo  is  also 
■y  (juestion?, 


have  been 
ec  much  of 


i 


•■'  Which  IS  the  hirgcst  of  the  two  ?" 

"  The  convent  of  the  fJrev  Sisters  occupies  the  most  ground,  I 
believe." 

"  Arc  you  not  mistaken  ?  The  JJIack  Nunnery  i|[  very  large/' 

'•  Truo :  but  I  believe  tli  grounds  of  the  other  are  of  the 
greatest  extent." 

"  Well :  wlioro  did  you  go  next  ?" 

"To  tiie  Hotel  Uieu." 

"  Which  way  did  you  enter  it?" 

"  Through  the  broad  uate,  in  St.  Joseph  street." 

liy  Misa  Monk  "  You  found  yourself  among  a  number  of  out- 
buildings there?" 

"  Yes :  Several." 

Thus  far  1  had  submitted  to  the  questioning,  because  the  pre- 
liminaries were  not  material.  Another  question  was  now  put  to 
me,  I  think  by  Mr.  tSlocum,  the  effect  of  which  would  have  been 
to  make  me  open  the  doors  of  the  convent  to  them.  This  was 
not  the  plan  I  had  adjusted  in  my  own  mind,  to  bring  the  veracity 
of  the  pretended  nuns  to  the  test.  My  reply  to  the  question  was 
as  follows: — 

"  Uentlemen,  I  did  not  come  here  to  be  catechised.  I  have 
answered  thus  far  cheerfully.  But  I  am  neither  a  party  in  this 
matter,  nor  a  witness.  I  came  hither  on  invitation,  to  meet  these 
ladies,  and  hoar  what  they  and  you  have  to  say.  My  only  object 
is  to  arrive  at  the  truth  as  to  the  matter  in  hand." 

To  which  there  was  a  general  reply  from  the  gentlemen,  that 
that  was  also  their  only  object. 

After  a  pause,  and  a  few  indifferent  remarks  as  to  the  enil)ar- 
rassment  of  the  position  in  which  we  were  all  placed,  Maria  Monk 
spoke  up  quite  pertly  : — 

•'  I  should  think  that  such  an  old  man  us  you,  Mr.  Stone,  would 
not  be  afraid  to  speak  to  such  girls  as  wo  [or  before  us  upon  this 
subject,  I  am  not  certain  as  to  the  words.] 

*'  Not  so  very  old.  Miss  Monk :  liow  could  you  say  so  ?  I  have 
not  a  grey  hair  yet!" 

Miss  Monk  :  But  can't  you  tell  us  ho.v  you  found  the  nunnery  ? 
We  should  like  to  know  somelhiMg  about  it,  as  you  have  been  there 
so  long  since  we  have. 


'Mi 


"  So  1  suppose.     Rut  I  don't  choose  to  be  questioned  about  it 


VI  ow. 


Anotlier  brief  pause  then  ensued.  The  truth  was,  I  had  resolved 
in  my  own  mlhd,  it' called  to  examine  tlio  pretended  nuns,  to  take 
them  upon  two  or  three  definite  points,  so  simple  that  they  could 
not  he  misunderstood,  and  of  such  a  nature  as  would  most  likely 
test  the  (jucstion  at  once,  whether  or  not  they  were  acquainted 
with  the  institution.  It  would  indeed  iiave  been  a  pretty  affair  for 
me  to  have  given  a  lecture  upon  the  internal  structure  and  police 
of  the  institution,  from  which  these  women — impostors  as  I 
doubted  not  they  were — might  derive  facts  and  hints  for  im- 
provinjr  their  plausibility,  and  thus  serve  to  aid  them  in  keeping 
up  the  deception.     It  was  a  trap  in  which  I  was  not  to  be  caught. 

However,  after  looking  at  each  other  a  few  seconds,  and  the  in- 
terchange around  tiie  circle  of  a  few  words  of  no  importance — 
finding  that  the  interview  was  likely  to  result  in  nothing,  I  told 
them,  if  it  was  tiieir  desire,  I  would  break  the  silence  by  asking  a 
icvv  questions  ;  to  which  all  assented.  The  following  is  the  spirit 
of  the  examination  that  ensued,  and  nearly  in  the  very  words. 

Question  by  Mr.  Stone.  Miss  Partridge,  you  arc  lately  from  the 
Hotel  Dieu  ? 

3fiss  Partridge.     I  am. 

Qu.  Well,  Miss  Partridge,  about  these  alterations  that  have 
been  going  on  in  the  nunnery  ;  I  am  told  that  you  say  they  have 
been  so  extensive,  and  tho  place  is  so  much  changed,  that  you  would 
hardly  know  it  yourself? 

Ans.     Yes,  it  is  so. 

Qu.  Very  well:  lie  so  good  as  to  tell  me  which  of  the  walls 
in  the  cellar  has  been  buili  during  this  season? 

Ans.     A  wall  across  the  East  side  of  the  cellar. 

Qu.     Tho  East  side  ?    You  are  quite  sure,  Miss  Partridge  ? 

Ans.     Yes. 

What  kind  of  a  wall  is  it  ? 
It  wa:  a  wall 


Qu. 

Ans. 
Qn. 
\ns 


Of  stone,  T  sujiposo? 
Ves. 
Very  well;   ;dl  tli(.'  wnlls  ,uc  of  slonc,  of  rours«\ 


Qu.  N( 
any  thing  o 

Ans.  T 
the  wall,  w 
streak  whet 

%  Dr. 
could  see  ? 

Ans.     Y 

Jhj  Mr. 

Qu.    M 

Ans. 

Gentlemi 

Question 

Ans.     I 

Qu.  hy  1 
Notre  Dam 

Ans.  T 
street !    Ar 

At  this  ir 
congregatio 

Mr.  Stoi 
are  certain, 
tho  Hotel  L 

♦  Tho  conv 
and  forms  a  i 
Jenn  Piaptistc 
taclied  bnildi: 
or  South  Eas 
St.  Jean  Kapl 
Josopli  Btrect 
or  nortli  west 
nunneries  un 
ners— ono  frc 
nunnery  is  C( 
instruction  ii 
Rtruction ;  ai 
to  take  c'liiU' 
of  many  jmoI 


fi<iitiiiitii;i(«;>i'ii>i.^i*i't>i 


37 


ed  about  it 

id  resolved 
ins,  lo  take 
they  could 
nost  likclv 
acquainted 
ty  affair  for 
and  police 
3tors  as  I 
Its  for  im- 
in  keeping 
be  caught. 
:ind  the  in- 
oortance — 
ing,  I  told 
ly  asking  a 
s  the  spirit 
words, 
y  from  the 


that  have 
they  have 
you  would 


the  wails 


ridge  ? 


Qtt.  Now  as  to  the  plastering  of  ihe  ceiling — Do  you  know 
any  thing  of  that  ? 

Ans.  Tlio  ceiling  was  all  newly  plastered,  and  partly  down  on 
the  wall,  where  it  broke  off.  You  could  see  a  blue  or  green 
streak  where  tlio  new  plaster  was  joined  on. 

By  Dr.  Jiroimlec.  Was  it  lijzlit  in  the  cellar  so  that  you 
could  see  ? 

Ans.     Yes  :  perfectly  light. 

Jii/  Mr.  Stone.     The  cellars  are  all  very  well  lighted,  Doctor. 

Qu.     Miss  Partridge,  you  arc  quite  certain  of  all  this  1 

Ans.     Yes. 

Gentlemen,  it  is  important  to  pay  attention  to  these  points. 

Question  hy  Miss  Partridge.     Did  you  go  up  all  the  stairs  ? 

Ans.     I  believe  I  did. 

Qu.  hy  Miss  P.  Did  you  go  up  the  long  stairway  leading  from 
Notre  Dame  Stieet  ? 

Afis.  The  stair  way,  did  you  say,  leading  from  Notre  Dame 
street !    Are  you  quite  sure  1 

At  this  instant  Maria  Monk  jogged  her,  and  interposed — "  The 
congregational  nunnery,  you  mean  !"* 

Mr.  Sto7ie.  I  am  talking  to  Miss  Partridge,  Miss  Monk.  You 
are  certain.  Miss  Partridge,  that  it  is  the  long  stair-way  leading  from 
the  Hotel  Dieu  into  Notre  Dame  street  ? 

♦  The  convent  of  La  Congregation  do  Notre  Dame,  ia  in  Notre  Dame  street, 
nnd  forms  a  range  of  buildings  234  feet  in  front,  and  433  in  depth,  along  St. 
Jenn  I'»aptifite  street;  besides  the  principal  edifice,  it  contains  Jiumcrous  de- 
tached buildings,  and  a  large  garden.  The  Hotel  Dieu  stands  on  tlio  South 
or  South  East  come:  of  a  largo  block,  formed  by  St.  Paul  street  on  the  East, 
St.  Jean  Baptiste  street  on  the  North,  Notre  Dame  Street  on  tho  West,  and  St. 
Joseph  street  on  the  South.  The  Congregational  nunnery  stands  on  the  North, 
or  north  west  corner  of  the  block  fronting  on  Notre  Danio  street.  Thus  tiie  two 
nunneries  uro  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  block,  and  at  diagonally  opposite  cor- 
nerB— ono  fronting  to  tho  East,  and  the  other  to  th>j  West.  The  Congregational 
nunnery  is  couiposed  of  sixty  Sisters,  and  tho  object  of  the  institution  is  female 
instruction  in  its  different  branches.  The  business  of  tho  Sisters  is  giving  in- 
struction ;  and  they  often  Bend  missionaries  into  different  parts  of  the  District 
to  take  charge  of  pniisli  tichools.  It  has  formerly  been  the  UBwisn  practico 
of  many  protestniiis  in  tlie  United  yintcw,  to  wnd  their  daughters  to  this  nun- 
noiy  <"•-  iVoir  education. 


38 


Ans.     Yfs — tliat  is  the  one.  [or  words  cqnivalont.] 

(Jontlomcn,  these  iiKiuirics  are  important,  and  must  bo  kept  in 
mind. 

Question  by  Mr.  >SVo;u'.— Well,  Miss  Partridge,  we  will  come 
to  the  cellars  again  :  Pray  tell  me  which  of  the  cellars  under  ihc 
hospital  has  been  the  latest  whitewashed,  during  the  present 
season  ? 

Am.     Why — they  have  all  been  whitewashed  this  summer. 

Qa.  What — all  the  vaults  and  cellars  \  Arc  you  (juite  sure, 
Miss  Partridge? 

y1w5.  Yes  :  all  of  them  have  been  thoroughly  whitewashed. 

Qm.  Are  you  not  mistaken  about  ail  being  whitewashed  \ 

Ans.  No  :  I  know  it,  for  I  helped  to  whitewash  them  myself. 
Why,  (turning  to  Miss  Monk)  Maria,  yo\i  have  helped  me  to  white- 
wash them,  liav'nt  you  1 

To  which  I  understood  Maria  to  assent. 

This  examination  of  tlie  latest  pattern  of  an  escaped  nun,  was 
sulTicient.  I  told  her  that  that  was  enough,  and  turning  io  her 
frici^ds  1  remarked — Gentlemen,  that  woman  has  not  been  in  the 
Hotel  Dieu  at  all.  She  is  an  impostor.  She  is  imposing  false- 
hoods upon  you.  I  assure  you,  upon  my  honor,  and  from  my 
own  personal  knowledge  and  observation,  that  all  she  has  told  us 
here  is  false.  There  has  been  no  new  wall  built  where  she  de- 
scribes, or  in  any  other  place.  I  have  examined  every  inch  of 
ground.  There  have  been  none  of  the  alterations  of  which  she 
.speaks — not  the  removal  of  a  wall,  a  partition,  or  a  board.  She 
does  not  know,  gentlemen,  even  where  the  Convent  is  situated, 
for  she  has  located  it  on  the  wrong  street,  and  on  the  wrong  side 
of  a  very  largo  block.  Tiirec  times  has  she  said  there  is  a  large 
stairway,  and  a  passage  from  the  Convent  directly  into  Notrc- 
Dame  street, — whereas  the  Convent  is  Air  away  from  that  street, 
without  any  opening  or  communication  thither.  Kut,  more  than 
all,  gentlemen,  on  the  subject  of  the  whitewashing.  All  that  she 
has  said  is  false.  Not  a  single  cellar,  or  vaidt,  of  that  Convent, 
has  ever  been  whitewashed  !  The  walls  arc  as  dark  and  bare  of 
lime  as  when  they  were  first  Iniilt,  a  century  ago.  This  fact  T 
know,  from  having  just  examined  every  one  of  ihcm   with  the 


closest  srru 
and  Maria, 
gentlemen. 
Question 
stories  are  t 
Ans.  On 
undergroun 

Th/  Mr 

In  the  first 

And  in  the 

been  white 

Having  t 

dignity,  inti 

to  deny  hei 

Miss  Monk 

Qn.  Wo 

from  the  I 

and  within 

you    turncc 

tin  ally  wen 

%  3fr. 

was  laid  do 

it  is  no  wot 

Qu.  Yoi 

tho  [gardor 

Ans.  Yq 

Qu.  But 

all  solid  sto 

— Pray  ho^ 

Ans.  I  V 

Mr.  Sto 

sive  stone. 

Miss  M( 

have  been 

I  now   I 

this  is  uttoi 

Tiierc  arc 

tniv  .ie<>.' 


30 


10  kept  in 

^vill  conic 
under  ilic 
,e    present 

mnier. 
juite  sure, 

ashed, 
lodi 

m  myself, 
e  to  whlte- 


1  nun,  was 
iing  to  lier 
leen  in  tlic 
sing  falsc- 

from  my 
as  told  us 
e  she  do- 
ry inch  of 
which  she 
ard.  She 
is  situated, 
nong  side 
is  a  large 
to  Notrc- 
hat  street, 
more  than 
li  that  site 

Convent, 
d  bare  oC 

lis  fact  T 

wit!)  the 


closest  scrutiny.  And  yd  she  says  slic  lic'l[«'(l  to  wliitcwasli  their?, 
and  Maria,  too,  says  she  has  formerly  helped  her!  It  is  all  f;dse, 
gentlemen. 

Question  hi/  Dr.  Jirownlcc. — But,  Miss  Partridoo,  how  many 
stories  are  there,  miderground? 

Ans.  Only  two,  underground.  Oh,  £  believe  the  lower  one 
underground  has  not  bemi  whitewashed. 

li)/  Mr.  Stone. — That  docs  not  help  the  matter  at  all,  Doctor. 
In  the  first  place  there  is  no  such  thing  as  two  stories  underground. 
And  in  the  second,  the  first  and  only  story  underground  has  never 
been  whitewashed  at  all.     It  is  all  false. 

Having  thus  spoken,  INIiss  Partridge  drew  back  with  aflcctcd 
dignity,  intimating  that  she  would  say  no  more  to  me,  if  I  pn-sumed 
to  deny  her  having  been  in  the  Nunnery,  I  thereupon  turned  to 
Miss  Monk. 

Qn.  Well,  Miss  Monk,  how  happened  it  that  when  you  escaped 
from  the  Nunnery,  after  coming  round  the  wing  into  the  yard, 
and  within  a  very  fow  feet  of  the  wide  gate  into  St.  Joseph  street, 
you  turned  so  short  about,  almost  crossing  your  track,  and 
finally  went  out  across  the  grounds,  and  into  Jean  Baptisto  street  1 
Jii/  Mr.  Slocum. — We  have  never  supposed  that  the  drawing 
was  laid  down  exactly  right ;  the  poor  girl  was  so  frightened  that 
it  is  no  wonder  if  she  did  not  know  exactly  how  she  did  get  out. 

Qu.  You  arc  (piito  sure.  Miss  Monk,  that  you  passed  out  across 
tho  [garden]  grounds,  into  Jean  Baptisto  street  1 
Ana.  Yes. 

Qu.  But,  Miss  Blonk,  there  arc  several  high  walla  in  the  way — 
all  solid  stone  walls — and  the  outer  wall  is  somo  twenty  feet  high. 
— Pray  how  did  you  get  over  these  obstacles  ? 
Ans.  I  went  out  through  tho  gates. 

Mr.  Stone. — But  there  are  no  gates — the  walls  are  solid,  mas- 
sive stone. 

Miss  Monk. — It  was  so  then  :  I  don't  know  what  alterations 
have  been  made  sin<"e. 

1  now  turned,  and  remarked  to  the  company — '*  (Jenllemcny 
lliis  is  utterly  untrue.  Thure  is  no  passai^e  in  that  direction. 
Tiiere  arc  no  gates.     The  wall  is  us  soli«l  as  when  built  a  ccn^ 

tiliv  .lUo,' 


40 


Some  general  remarks  were  made  by  the  circle,  about  the 
possibility  of  the  alterations  having  been  made,  and  yet  the  spec- 
tator, or  the  public,  being  kept  in  ignorance  of  them.  I  replied  to 
these  objections  much  in  the  manner  of  my  remarks  upon  that 
point,  in  the  preceding  narrative  of  my  visit  to  the  Convent.  "  Mr. 
Dwight,"  I  remarked,  "  Do  you  suppose  it  would  be  possible  for 
a  builder  to  send  his  workmen  to  the  Park  and  build  up  the  por- 
tals of  the  City  Hall,  with  solid  mason  work,  without  the  work- 
men being  seen,  or  the  alteration  attracting  the  public  notice  ?  And 
do  you  suppose  that  by  the  day  after  such  an  alteration  had  been 
made,  the  people  would  forget  that  there  had  ever  been  such  a 
portal  there  1  The  thing  is  impossible  :  and  equally  impossible 
would  it  bo  for  the  priests  and  nuns  to  make  the  alterations  for 
which  you  contend,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  people  of  Mon- 
treal, who  are  passing  and  repassing  the  Convent  every  hour  and 
moment  of  the  day. 

I  now  resumed  the  examination  of  Maria  Monk. 

Qu.  Miss  Monk,  in  your  book  you  speak  of  finding  a  certain 
book  in  the  Superior's  room,  containing  a  record  for  two  years, 
of  the  entrance  of  novices  into  the  Convent,  and  the  births  of 
children,  all  of  which  were  murdered? 

Ans.  Yes. 

Qu.  How  many  pages  did  that  book  contain  ? 

Ans.  I  do  not  remember. 

Qu.  Can  you  not  recollect  how  many  pages  are  stated  in  your 
book  1 

Ans.  No — I  told  Mr.  Dwight  us  near  as  I  could  recollect,  and 
ho  put  it  down. 

Mr.  Stone. — Very  well :  I  will  help  you.  Your  book  says 
there  were  about  one  hundred  pages.  Now,  Miss  Monk,  how 
many  pages  did  you  say  were  written  over  t 

A71S.  I  don't  recollect.     I  told  Mr.  Dwight  as  near  as  I  could. 

By  Miss  Partridge,  and  Miss  Monk — We  could  never  have 
timo  to  count  the  pages  of  such  a  book — We  should  not  dare  to 
look  ul  such  a  book  more  than  two  minutes,  and  how  could  we 
count  the  pages  ? 

Mr.  Stone.  Very   well ;  i  will  help  you   again.     You  say  in 


your  boo) 

making  t\ 

many  entr 

Ans.  I 

Mr.  Sio 

about  fifte( 

me  how  ni 

ing  the  en 

all  of  whic 

Ans.  N( 

Dwight  as 

Mr.  Sto 

pages"  wei 

how  many 

A71S.   W 

one. 

Mr.  Sim 
those  were 
and  murdei 
degree  of  p 
Surely  you 
Miss  Mo 
that  I  was 
replied,  "  f 
must  be  pui 
Mr.  Dwi 
of  chalk. 

Mr.  Star 
But  I  must 
what  do  yo 
in  writing  t 
twenty- five 
were  devot 
suppose  tha 
you  not  ? 
Mr.  Dwi 
Mr.  Slot 


41 


about  tho 
the  spec- 
replied  to 
upon  that 
nt.     "  Mr. 
ossible  for 
p  the  por- 
the  work- 
tice?  And 
1  had  been 
;en  such  a 
impossible 
rations  for 
le  of  Mon- 
y  hour  and 


I  a  certain 

two  years, 

le  births  of 


I 


od  in  your 

collect,  and 

book  says 
Monk,  how 


as  I  could.   , 
never  have 
aot  dare  to 
V  could  we 

f  ou   say   in  J 


your  book,  that  one  quarter  of  the  book  was  written  through — 
making  twenty-five  pages.  Now,  Miss  Monk,  cfiii  you  tell  how 
many  entries  there  were  on  each  page  ? 

Ans.  I  do  not  recollect. 

3Ir.  Stone. — Then  I  will  assist  you  again.  You  say  there  wero 
about  fifteen  entries  on  a  page.  Now,  Miss  Monk,  can  you  inform 
me  how  many  of  these  twenty-five  pages  were  devoted  to  record- 
ing the  entries  of  novices,  and  how  many  to  tho  births  of  infants, 
all  of  which  were  murdered  1 

Ans.  No.  I  don't  remember  the  exact  number.  I  told  Mr. 
Dvvight  as  near  as  I  could. 

Mr.  Stone. — Very  well :  your  book  sa^^s  "  Several  of  these 
pages"  were  devoted  to  recording  the  births  of  infants.  Now, 
how  many  do  you  mean  by  "  severaH" 

Ans.  Why,  that's  a  strange  question.  Of  course  more  than 
one. 

Mr.  Stone. — But  that  will  not  answer.  If  what  you  say  is  true, 
those  were  deeply  important  records — nothing  less  than  the  births 
and  murder  of  children. — We  must  endeavor  to  arrive  at  some 
degree  of  precision.  About  how  many  do  you  mean  by  several  ? 
Surely  you  can  form  some  opinion. 

Miss  Monk  hesitated,  and  several  of  the  gentlemen  intimated 
that  I  was  pursuing  an  unfair  method  of  examination;  to  which  I 
replied,  "  Not  at  all,  gentlemen  :  this  is  an  important  point.  It 
must  be  pushed  home  to  get  at  the  truth." 

Mr.  Dwii>ht. — You  might  as  well  ask  her  liow  large  is  a  piece 
of  chalk. 

3Tr.  Stone. — That  will  do  very  well  for  a  get-off,  Mr;  Dwlght. 
But  I  must  have  an  answer  of  some  sort.  Now,  Mr.  Dwight, 
what  do  you  understand  by  several,  in  the  sense  you  have  used  it 
in  writing  the  book  1  Suppose  a  book  of  one  hundred  |)ages— • 
twenty-five  of  which  were  written  over,  and  "  several"  of  which 
were  devoted  to  a  particular  subject.  In  such  a  case  you  would 
suppose  that  "  several"  would  imply  as  many  as  five  or  six,  would 
you  not  ? 

Mr.  Dwight. — I  should  think  that  about  right. 

Mr.  Stone. — ^'eiy  well— we  will  take  five.     (To  which  Miss 

6 


42 


Monk  assented.)  We  have  now  five  pages  of  the  records  of  births 
of  ir.fants,  which  have  been  born  and  murdered  within  two  years 
— fifteen  on  a  pa<re.     Now,  gentlemen,  I  remarked,  liiere  are  but 

thirty-six  nuns  in  the  convent 

Miss  Movk  turned  round,  smiling  at  my  assertion,  and  said 
there  were  many  more. 

No,  gentlcrncp,  (I  co'^tinued)  there  are  but  thirty-six  nuns,  and 
some  four  or  five  novices.* 

Dr.  .Brmrnlcf. — We  say  there  arc  more.     How  can  you  prove 
that  ther(>  are  hut  thirty-six  1 

Mr.  StoHC. — Nay,  tSir,  the  proof  does  not  rest  upon  me.  I  as- 
sert the  fact. 

Several  Gentlcmtn. — You  must  prove  there  are  no  more. 
Dr.  Browvlcc. — Miss    Partridge,  you   were  in    the   Nunnery 
when  Mr.  Perkins,  with  the   committee,  made  their  examination, 
were  you  not  1 

Miss  Partridge. — I  was. 

Dr.  BrownUe. — How  many  Nuns  were  in  the  Convent  that 
day  1     How  many  were  sent  ofi" before  the  committee  came? 

Miss  Partridge. — T  don't  know  how  many  were  sent  away. 
There  were  only  nineteen  in  the  nunnery  that  day.  A  good  many 
were  sent  ofl'. 

Mr.  Stone. — Gentlemen,  this  is  all  nonsense.  That  woman 
has  never  been  in  the  Nunnery  at  all,  and  there  were  none  sent  off 
on  the  occasion  referred  to — it's  all  folly  to  suppose  any  such 
thing. 

Several. — But  the  proof  rests  with  you. 

3Tr.  Stone. — No,  gentlemen  :  not  at  all.  I  assort  the  fact,  that 
there  are,  and  have  been  but  thirty-six  nuns  in  the  Hotel  Dieu. 
That  was  the  original  number  of  the  foundation — it  has  always 
been  the  number,  and  no  more.  For  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  I 
can  appeal  to  the  history  of  the  institution — to  the  whole  people 
of  Montreal — to  my  own  observation.     I  then  added — 

"  Gentlemen,  there  are  but  thirty-six  Nuns  in  that  Convent — 

*  There  iiic,  in  fact,  hut  iliirty'foiir  nuns  at  picecnt  in  the  Convent— liiirty- 
fix  being  the  lull  number. 


more — con 

fiir  advance 

yet  we  hav 

fifteen  birtli 

of  two  yeai 

probably  b( 

"  Pray,  j 

many  child 

There  w 

I  next  ad 

Nunnery,  ai 

like,  that  W( 

ference,  in  i 

I  of  course 

had  been  m 

Mr.  Sloe 

correct.     T 

We  never  s 

3Ir  Stom 

ask  for    soi 

which  there 

lieve  it  poss 

have  residec 

without  bein 

concerning  1 

ment? 

3Fiss  Moi 

to  go,  and  p 

Mr.  Stan 

priests  will 

Mr.  Sloci 

Mr.  Ston 

word  for  it. 

pamphlet  gi' 

Gentlemen  ; 

To  my  ov 

I  occupied  by 

I  a  thorough  ( 


of  births 
^0  years 
!  are  but 


and  said 

luns,  and 

^ou  prove 

le.     I  as- 

ore. 

Nunnery 
iniination, 


nvent  that 
ame? 
ent  away, 
jood  many 

at  woman 
ne  sent  off 
I  any  such 


c  fact,  that 
lotei  Dieu. 
las  always 
sscrtion,  I 
ole  people 

Convent — 

vent— lliiitv- 


43 


more — considerably  more — than  one  half  of  those  Nuns  are  too 
far  advanced  in  life  to  become  the  mothers  ofyounrr children.  And 
yet  we  have,  by  Miss  Monk's  statement,  five  pajjos  of  record:?* 
fifteen  births  and  murders  to  the  p;><^u>,  and  all  within  the  period 
of  two  vears,  and  not  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  nuns  who  would 
probably  bear  children."     Then  turnini^  to  Maria,  I  asked — 

"  Pray,  Miss  Monk,  will  you  be  so  good  as  to  inform  me  how 
many  children  a-piece  those  Nuns  have  every  year  ?"' 

There  was  no  direct  answer. 

I  next  adverted  to  her  plan  and  driiwinsjs  of  tiie  interior  of  the 
Nunnery,  and  asked  how  it  Imppened  that  (,'very  thiuL'  was  so  un- 
like, that  wc  found  it  iinpossibio  to  trace  any  resemblance  ?  Re- 
ference, in  re|)ly,  was  again  made  to  the  alleged  alterations.  These 
I  of  course  denied,  from  my  positive  knowledge  that  none  such 
had  been  made. 

Mr.  Slocuin.  We  never  supposed  they  were  put  down  exactly 
correct.  They  were  according  to  the  best  of  her  recollection. 
We  never  supposed  they  were  correct  as  to  feet  and  inches. 

3Ir  Stone. — I  care  nothing  about  feet  and  inches.  1  merely 
ask  for  some  remote  similitude — some  distant  resemblance — 
which  there  is  not.  And  I  asked  them — Gentlemen,  do  you  be- 
lieve it  possible  that  any  woman  of  common  intellisience,  could 
have  resided  in  any  building,  no  matter  what,  for  a  series  of  years, 
without  being  able,  on  leaving  it,  to  retain  some  distinct  iin|)ression 
concerning  the  location  and  general  appearance  of  some  one  a|)art- 
njent? 

Miss  Moid.  But  I  am  willing  to  goto  Montreal-.  All  I  want  is 
to  go,  and  prove  what  I  say  on  tlie  spot. 

Mr.  Stone. — Still  you  appear  to  be  dreadfully  afraid  that  the 
priests  will  kill  you. 

3Ir.  Slociim.  It  is  not  so.   She  is  not  afraid,  and  is  anxious  to  go* 

Mr.  Stone. — Verv  well.  It  mav  be  so.  I  have  only  her  own 
word  for  it.  It  is  so  stated  by  herself  half  a  dozen  times  in  tho 
pamphlet  giving  an  account  of  your  interview  with  the  Canadian 
Gentlemen  at  Mr.  Dwight's  book-store. 

To  my  own  personal  knowledge;  it  was  objected  that  the  time 
occupied  by  me  in  the  exploration  was  altogether  inadecpiate  to 
«  thorough  examination.     I  replied  that  they  were  mistaken  ;  and 


44 


assured  Doct.  Brownlcc  and  Mr.  Dwight  that  if  they  would  only 

go  to  Montreal,  and  visit  the  Hotel  Dicu,  thoy  would  see  in  twenty 

minutes  time  how   utterly  mistaken  they  were  in  all  this  matter. 

They   would  see   the    utter   impossibility   of   the    ridiculous   and 

baseless  tales  of  these  women.     But  Dr.  Brownico  said  he  would 

not  venture  to  place  himself  there,  nor  would  he  think  of  making 

an  examination  unless  he  went  with  masons  and  carpenters  &.c.  &c. 

But  I  had  yet  one  point  more  i:i  reserve,  and  proceeded — 

Qn.  Miss  Monk,  about  those   said  trap-doors — how  many  are 

there  1 

By  Sevei-ttl. — What  do  you  call  trap-doors? 

3fr.  Stone.  I  mean  the  old-fashioned  trap-doors — such  as  were 

formerly  common  in  farm-houses — raised   up    from  the  floor  on 

opening,  and  leading  to  the  cellars  :   How  many  were  there,  Miss 

Monk  ? 

Ans.  One. 

Qu.  Only  one  ? 

Ans.  I  never  saw  but  one. 

Qu.  Where  was  that  1 

Ans.  In  the  cellar,  leading  to  the  secret  passage  of  the  priests* 

Gentlemen,  (I  remarked,)  it  is  very  clear  that  this  woman  has 

never  been  in  the  cloister  of  the  Hotel  Dieu.     Thero  are  quite  a 

number  of  trap-doors,  opening  from  the  principal  apartments  into 

the  vaults  and  store-rooms  below.     These   could   not  have  been 

unseen  and  unknown  by  a  resident.     I  have  opened  them  all  and 

examined  the   vaults  below.     I   certainly  opened  from   four    to 

six,  and  there   can   be  no  mistake.     As  to  the  one   trap-door  of 

which  she  speaks,  I  know  there  is  none  there — and  never  was.    I 

mean  where  she  has  laid  down  the  secret  passage- — which  also  does 

not  exist.  These,  gentlemen,  are  facts  upon  which  it  is  not  possible 

that  I  should  be  mistaken. 

I  had  now  proceeded  far  enough,  and  attained  my  object.  The 

proof  was  as  clear  as  though  written  with  a  sun-beam,  that  the 

women  were  both  impostors,  and  had  never  been  inmates  of  the 

cloister,     I  rose,  and  in  taking  my  departure,  once  more  earnestly 

appealed  to  the  gentlemen  present,  to  discard  them  at  once.     I 

told  them  it  was  high  time  that  they  should   cease  listening  to  the 

alsehoods — as  falsehoods  their  stories  were,  from  beginning  to 


end, — and 

be  disabus 

longer — sa 

I  replied  tl 

them  to  be 

doned  won 

main  loufre 

the  gentlen 

to  believe  t 

Dr.  Brown 

still  declino 

was  high  ti 

that  within 

them  a  pac 

said — 

Dr.  Br  01 

have  them. 

Mr.  Ston 

Dr.  Br 01 

I  may  say  3 

I  have  a  ri^ 

3Ir.  Stoi 

ledge  1  kno 

Dr.  Bro 

publishing  t 

3lr.  Stoi 

equivalent. 
Dr.  Broi 

[may]  say  ^ 

Mr.  Stoi 

Such  is  fi 

the  pretendi 

to  write  it  0 

that  was  est 

that  were  u 

served — for 

ness  of  repc 


45 


lid  only 
I  twenty 
matter. 
ous   and 
le  would 
f  making 
&c.  &c. 
d— 
nany  arc 


h  as  were 

floor  on 

ere,  Miss 


e  priests* 
oman  lias 
re  quite  a 
ments  into 
have  been 
3m  all  and 
n   four    to 
ap-door  of 
,'cr  was.    I 
h  also  does 
lot  possible 

jject.  The 
n,  that  the 
ates  of  the 

e  earnestly 
It  once.     1 

ning  to  the 
eG;inning  to 


}nd, 


id  it  was  hlcii  tir 


;,  moreover,  that  this  community  should 
be  disabused  of  their  impostures.  They  urced  me  to  rcnuiiu 
longer — saying  that  ihcy  were  not  h;«U' throui;h  with  ilioir  proofs. 
I  replied  that  no  farther  proofs  were  necessary.  1  had  [)roved 
them  to  be  impostors  from  their  own  lips;  and  with  such  aban- 
doned women  1  could  have  nothing  more  to  do.  Nor  would  I  re- 
main longer  v.ith  them.  Perceiving,  moreover,  as  I  thought,  that 
the  gentlemen  were  so  blinded  by  their  prejudices,  as  to  be  inclined 
to  believe  them  rather  than  me,  I  was  the  more  determined  to  depart. 
Dr.  Brownlee  attended  me  to  the  door,  and  urged  me  to  return.  I 
still  declined — and  remarked  to  the  good  Doctor,  at  the  door,  that  it 
was  high  time  that  men  of  sense  should  give  up  this  business, — 
that  within  my  own  knowledge,  those  women  were  imposing  on 
them  a  pack  of  lies, — whereat  the  Dr.  waxed  rather  warm  ;  and 
said — 

Dr.  Broicnlcc. — I  have  as  much  right  to  call  you  a  liar,  as  you 
have  them. 

Mr,  Stone. — Very  well,  if  you  choose  to  do  so; 

Dr.  Brownlee. — In  the  same  sense  in  which  you  say  they  lie, 
I  may  say  you  lie.  You  say  they  have  not  been  in  the  Nunnery^ 
I  have  a  right  to  say  you  have  not  been  there. 

Mr.  Stone. — But  I  have  been  there,  and  from  my  own  know- 
ledge 1  know  that  they  pre  telling  you  falsehoods. 

Dr.  Brownlee. — Your  story  is  all  a  humbug ;  and  if  you  go  to 
publishing  any  thing,  recollect  that  we  have  got  a  press  too  ! 

Mr.  Stone. — I  shall  take  my  own  course.  Doctor,  [or  words 

equivalent.] 

Dr.  Brownlee. — In  the  same  sense  in  which  you  say  they  lie,  I 

[may]  say  you  have  not  been  there,  and  that  you  lie,  [or  are  a  liar.] 

Mr.  Stone. — Good  afternoon,  Dr.  Brownlee  ! 

Such  is  a  faithful  account  of  my  first  and  only  interview  with 
the  pretended  Nuns,  and  their  s[)ecial  friends.  I  have  endeavored 
to  write  it  out  with  all  fairness  and  impartiality — preserving  all 
that  was  essential  to  the  case,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  in  the  words 
that  were  used.  The  sense,  certainly,  has  been  faithlully  pre- 
served— for  my  memory  is  rarely  at  fault,  when  I  have  the  busi- 
ness of  reporting  in  hand. 


IG 


The  reader  will  probably  nsiroo  with  nic,  that  it  was  time  to 
rioso  the  interview;  and  it  would,  I  fear,  have  been  terminated 
with  less  of  courtesy  on  my  part,  had  it  not  been  for  the  cloth,  and 
for  t!io  personal  rei^ard  which  I  have  ever  entertained  for  the  re- 
verend gentleman.  1  well  understood  that  in  his  honest  zeal 
against  the  Papal  cause,  he  had  become  more  excited  than  ho 
was  aware  of,  and  I  took  my  departure,  only  pained  that  men  of 
sense  should  show  such  a  spirit,  and  allow  themselves  to  be  made 
such  egregious  dupes  of,  by  two  of  the  most  shallow  impostors  that 
I  had  ever  seen.  One  of  the  apostles  speaks  of  certain  men  in 
latter  days,  who  among  other  things,  were  to  "  make  captive  silly 
women."  The  case  is  here  reversed — "  Silly  women,"  are 
"  making  captive"  men  of  sense.  How  melancholy,  methought, 
while  wending  my  steps  homeward,  to  see  grave  theologians,  and 
intelligent  laymen  thus  pinning  themselves  to  the  aprons  of  such 


women 


Maria  Monk  has  now  been  sufiicicntly  long  in  New  York,  to 
enable  all  who  may  have  desired  the  honor,  to  form  an  estimate 
of  her  character  from  a  personal  interview.  I  am  informed  that 
she  has  for  most  of  the  time  been  easy  of  access,  and  has  not  been 
backward  in  exhibiting  herself  in  our  churches,  and  at  other  public 
places,  nor  in  visiting  among  those  of  our  citizens  who  have 
opened  their  doors  for  her  reception.  She  has  been  frequently 
seen  in  the  stores  and  offices  of  her  several  publishers,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  houses  of  that  small  portion  of  our  clergy  who  have 
taken  a  benevolent  interest  in  her  welfare,  regarding  her,  as  they 
probably  have  done,  as  a  penitent  and  reformed  proUigate — a  lone 
and  desolate  female,  who  needed  sympathy  and  counsel.  Her 
character  in  Montreal  is  notorious.  She  was  a  vicious  profligate 
''  on  the  town,"  and  was  taken  into  a  Magdalen  asylum,  in  1834, 
with  the  hope  of  reformation.  It  was  a  Catholic  establishment — 
the  rites,  ceremonies,  discipline  adopted  by  Mrs.  M'Donell,  were 
those  of  conventual  life,  and  it  is  from  these  that  she  has  borrowed 
what  her  book  contains  upon  that  subject,  and  by  An  inaccurate 
representation  has  attempted  to  palm  off  upon  the  world  acarrica- 
turt)  of  the  same,  as  the  observances  of  a  convent  of  which  it  is 
as  clear  as  any  established  truth  whatever,  that  she  was  never  an 
'nmatc.     Several  of  the  persons  whom  she  has  represented  as 


sister  nun 
Jane  Raj 
sities,  she 
and  thenc 
a  Protest 
people  of 
very  old,  a 
Since  ]i 
to  reawak( 
to  spirit  he 
she  has  be 
she  had  be 
Brooklyn, 
concealed 
bably  at  he 
ance  of  Mr, 
had  then  bi 
her  to  JSew 
with  all  po< 
sharp  for  h 
latter  found 
discreet  pro 
of  retreat,- 
convcyed  to 
betraying  al 
answered — 
interest  to  c 
:  vigilance  of 
fided,  as  we 
Tiiere  ha 
but  of  print( 
the   copyrig 
jmight  contri 
ireader.     I 
ifulure  D'lst 
file  benefit 
|)cnding  ;  ;u 


47 


time  to 
iiinated 
nil,  and 

the  re- 
Bst   zeal 
than  he 

men  of 
be  made 
iters  that 
I  men  in 
itive  silly 
en,"    are 
ethought, 
lians,  and 
IS  of  such 

York,  to 
n  estimate 
jrmed  that 
s  not  been 
ther  public 
who  have 
frequently 
and  espe- 
who  have 
er,  as  they 
ite — a  lone 
nsel.     Her 
profligate 
n,in  1834, 
ishment — 
onell,  vi^ere 
,s  borrowed 
inaccurate 
d  a  carrica- 
which  it  is 
s  never  an 
resented  as 


sister  nuns,  were  merely  sister  Magdalens,  of  wlioni  the  celebrated 
Jane  Ray  was  one.  Persisting  in  her  siniul  and  ini|niro  propen- 
sities, she  was  dismissed  from  the  asylum  in  a  slate  of  pregnancy, 
and  thence,  coiniected,  probably,  in  somo  way  with  Mr.  lioyie, 
a  Protestant  Jesuit,  in  no  good  odour  amonij;  tlio  truly  religious 
people  of  Montreal,  she  found  her  way  into  this  city.  tSlio  is  not 
very  old,  and  is  pert,  brazen  and  rather  pretty. 

Since  her  residence  in  this  city,  there  have  been  many  attempts 
to  reawaken  interest  in  her  behalf,  by  marvellous  tales  of  attem|)is 
to  spirit  her  away,  and  several  limes,  for  longer  or  shorter  periods, 
she  has  been  found  among  the  missing.  At  one  lime,  it  was  said 
she  had  been  abducted  and  was  kf.'pt  in  mysterious  durance  at 
Brooklyn.  At  another  time,  as  I  have  been  informed,  she  was 
concealed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bourne,  in  Springlield,  (N.J.) — [)io- 
bably  at  her  own  request,  to  escape  the  inq)ortunities  and  annoy- 
ance of  Mr.  Iloyte,  whose  presence  and  interference  in  her  altairs 
had  then  become  ofi'ensive  to  her.  But  albeit  INIr.  Bourne  took 
her  to  Newark  in  one  conveyance,  and  to  Springfield  in  another, 
with  all  possible  secresy,  the  jealous  eyes  of  INIr.  lloyto  were  too 
'  sharp  for  him,  and  he  dogged  them  all  the  way.  And  when  the 
latter  found  that  he  could  not  gain  access  to  her,  because  of  the 
discreet  protection  of  the  lady  whose  house  had  become  her  place 
.  of  retreat, — ascertaining,  njortover,  that  his  numerous  letters, 
'\  conveyed  to  her  by  artifices  resembling  a  lover's  ingenuity,  and 
betraying  all  the  ardor  of  another  youthful  Romeo,  rcmahied  un- 
answered—he contrived  by  the  aid  of  some  ladies  in  his  own 
interest  to  decoy  her  again  into  his  power — thus  defeating  tlio 
;  vigilance  of  the  faithful  matron  to  whose  care  she  had  been  con- 
fided, as  well  as  the  plans  of  her  friend  Mv.  Bourne. 

There  have  also  been  some  "  quarrels,"  not  only  of  "  authors," 
but  of  printers  and  publishers,  and  book  sellers,  tScc.  in  regard  to 
the  copyright  of  her  "  Awful  Disclosures,"  a  relation  of  which 
jniight  contribute  more  to  the  amusement  than  the  edification  of  the 
ireader.  I  therefore  pass  them  over,  for  the  benefit  of  some 
future  D'Israeli,  who  may  desire  to  write  the  history  thereof  for 
the  benefit  of  posterity.  Some  of  the  suits,  moreover,  are  still 
|)cnding  ;  and  respect  for  the  constituted  authorities  forbids  thy 


48 


discussion  of  such  delicate  maltoi  s  suh  jndicc.  Of  lier  book,  how- 
ever, many  thousand  cojiies  have  been  sold,  hom  which  the  book- 
sellers have  made  a  good  deal  of  money,  while  as  yet  poor  Maria 
has  i)robably  made  very  little.  Indeed  she  is  a  fitful  credulous 
creature — a  child  of  freak  and  impulse — who  has  probably  been 
as  much  of  a  dupe  herself,  as  the  public  have  been  dupes  of  her* 
Moreover  her  sanity  is  seriously  questioned  by  many,  and  some  res- 
pectable physicians  who  have  met  with  her,  have  declared  that 
upon  their  professional  oaths,  they  would  pronounce  her  to  be  non 
compos  mentis.  There  is  said  at  times  to  be  a  wildness  in  her 
eyes — an  unsteadiness  and  spasmodic  starting  of  her  nerves,  an 
incoherent  raving,  and  an  absence  of  mind,  which  lead  her  fre- 
quently to  fly  off  in  a  tangent  from  one  subject  to  another  ; — and 
dwelling  upon  some  circumstance  connected  with  real  or  imagi- 
nary wrongs,  and  an  imaginary  conspiracy  against  her  life,  of 
the  Popish  priests,  she  is  sometimes  suspicious  of  the  motives  and 
designs  of  ev(;ry  one  she  meets.  These,  and  other  peculiarities 
have  induced,  in  some  scientific  men,  the  opinion  that  she  is  of 
unsound  mind.  If  such  be  the  fact,  she  is  doubly  an  object  of 
compassion.  Certainl}'  she  is  a  subject  of  great  mental  imbe- 
cility ;  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  her  criminal  courses  have 
been  more  her  misfortune,  than  her  fault — and  that  the  guilt  of  her 
sins  will  lie  at  the  door  of  others  whom  God  will  judge. 

Having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Iloytc,  after  her  dismissal 
from  the  asylum  of  Mrs.  M'Donell,  that  gentleman,  knowing  the 
blind  zeal  and  credulity  of  the  anti-Papists,  par  excellence,  hit  upon 
the  expedient,  as  it  is  believed,  of  eliciting  the  |)ublic  sympathies 
in  her  f;.vor,  and  bringing  out  a  book,  from  which  great  profits 
were  to  be  realised.  When  her  case  became  known  in  New 
York,  certain  Protestant  clergymen,  morbidly  credulous  in  relation 
to  every  thing  concerning  Popery,  convents,  priests  and  nuns, 
became  greatly  interested  in  her  story — the  fancy-work,  probably, 
of  more  imaginations  than  her  own.  Her  tales  were  all  endorsed 
by  Hoyte,  and  the  houses,  hearts,  and  purses  of  all  were  opened 
to  the  supposed  nun  and  her  guardian.  It  was  soon  discovered, 
however,  that  lloyte  had  "  seven  principles"  ui)oa  the  subject, 
viz  :  "  the  five  loaves  and  two  fishes  ;"  and  his  judicious  advisers 


caused  h 
Rev.  Mr 

coiiscieiil 
write  her 
I  In  due 

then  cam 
writers  an 
ing  to  fav 
I       not  wlioi 
I       predclictii 
I       claim    to 
awakened 
of  the    ot 
stereotype 
or  two  cla 
orders  unc 
book  was  J 
and  divers 
fession,  fro 
was   dang( 
up  by  litigf 
been  infor 
from  the 
the  manifoj 
work  itsel 
about  a  Cc 
— essential 
lications  ofl 
Who   isf 
has  recentll 
Disclosure^ 
awful  still 
published  i| 
appeal  wh^ 
Justice   S( 
Maria,  an( 
"On  t\\ 


49 


)ok,  how- 

I 

the  book- 
301*  Maria 
credulous 
ably  been 
es  of  her* 

some  res- 
blared  that 
r  to  be  non 
less  in  her 
nerves,  an 
d  her  fre- 
her ; — and 

or  iniagi- 
ler  life,  of 
loiives  and 
Gculiarities 
at  she  is  of 
n  object  of 
ntal  imbe- 
urses  have 
j^'uilt  of  her 

k 

/• 

er  dismissal 
nowing  the 
ICC,  hit  upon 

sympathies 
re  at  profits 
^vn  in  New 
is  in  relation 
and  nuns, 
k,  probably, 
all  endorsed 
vere  opened 

discovered, 
the  subject, 
ious  advisors 


caused  his  dismission  from  lior  aflairs,  and  ag  her  protector.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Slocum  became  lier  guardian,  and  a  very  estiniablo  and 
conscientious  literary  gentleman,  Mr.  Dwiiiht,  was  employed  to 
write  licr  narrative  from  her  own  verbal  recitals. 

In  due  time  tiie  volume  was  ushered  forth  to  the  public,  and 
then  came  the  scramble  already  referred  to,  among  ministers  and 
writersandprinters,for  the  division  of  the  spoils — each  party  claim- 
ing to  favor  the  interest  of  Maria,  while  she,  poor  creature,  knew 
not  whotii  among  the  whole  slie  ought  to  trust.  Her  ancient 
predclictions  for  lloyto,  had  induced  her  to  give  him  a  legal 
claim  to  the  copyright,  and  yet  her  distrust  iiaving  been 
awakened,  she  gave  similar  powers  of  attorney,  to  one  or  more 
of  the  other  parties — revoking  the  former;  and  when  the 
stereotype  plates  were  prepared,  it  was  found  that  more  than  one 
or  two  claimants  were  awaiting  their  delivery,  all  having  written 
orders  under  the  sign  manual  of  Maria  IMonk.  Again,  when  the 
book  was  published,  there  were  injunctions  granted  and  rescinded, 
and  divers  other  tribulations,  giving  a  brisk  business  to  the  pro- 
fession, from  the  Chancellor  himself  to  the  Attorney,  until  there 
was  danger  that  the  whole  of  the  profits  would  be  swallowed 
up  by  litigation.  To  end  the  ditTiculties,  it  was  agreed,  as  I  have 
been  informed,  that  Maria  should  receive  eight  cents  per  copy 
from  the  sales.  Theso  sales  have  been  trreat,  notwithstanding 
the  manifold  internal  evidences  of  the  imposture  contained  in  the 
work  itself.  The  reason  is  found  in  the  mystery  which  hangs 
about  a  Convent,  and  in  the  fact  that  it  is  a  tale  of  lust  and  bLod 
— essential  ingredients  in  but  too  many  of  the  anti-popory  i>ub- 
lications  of  the  day.   So  much  for  Maria  Monk.     And  now — 

Who  is  this  Frances  Partridge,  the  newly  arrived  nun,  who 
has  recently  arrived  among  us  not  only  to  confirm  the  "  Awful 
Disclosures"  of  Maria  Monk,  but  freighted  with  disclosures  more 
awful  still  1  The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  iiccount  of  her, 
published  in  this  city  by  her  friends,  and  contuitx'd  in  a  ridiculous 
appeal  which  these  enthusiasts  are  making  to  the  venerable  Chief 
Justice  Sewell,  of  Lower  Canada,  founded  upon  the  stories  of 
Maria,  and  this  her  new  ally : — 

"  On  the  sixteenth  of  August,  1835,  verbal  intelligence  wa« 

4 


50 


received  in  New  York,  that  a  nun  from  tlio  Hotel  Dieu  Convent 
of  Montreal,  had  taken  refiigo  in  a  Protestant's  house,  in  the 
interior  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  on  the  22d  day  of  that 
month,  a  letter  arrived  from  a  gentleman,  confirming  that  state- 
ment. Measures  were  immediately  taken  to  ascertain  all  the 
circumstances  which  are  connected  with  that  unexpected  and 
surprising  event ;  and  on  the  2()th  of  August,  that  nun  arrived 
in  the  city  of  New  York.  I  have  thus  been  minutely  explicit, 
that  if  any  [)erson  can  invalidate  n)y  exposition  of  the  occurrence, 
they  may  have  every  iacility  to  detect  its  incoherence. 

"  The  nun's  conventual  name  was  Saintt;  Frances  Patrick. 
Some  months  ago,  live  nuns  in  connection  with  two  of  the  priests, 
all  of  whom  had  become  in  a  measure  disgusted  with  the  hypo- 
critical mummery  and  the  inordinate  dissoluteness  of  their 
habitual  course,  agreed  to  escape  from  their  horrible  bondage. 
Dy  some  means,  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  detail,  their  plot  was 
discovered  ;  and  the  vengeance  of  that  prelatical  inquisitor — 
MunsitiTucur  Jean  Jacques  Lartigne,  luveque  dc  Tchnesse  en 
Li/cie,^^  iS^'c.  Sf^c.,  was  efl'iised  u|)on  those  rebels  to  Papal  author- 
ity. One  of  the  priests  has  been  murdered  ;  two  of  the  nuns  also 
have  been  despatched  into  the  eternal  world — and  Frances 
Patrick  herself  was  immured  in  one  of  the  "  dungeons  of  despair," 
attached  to  that  melancholy  habitation,  where  "  owls  dwell,  and 
satyrs  dance," — Isaiah  xiii,  21.  There  she  was  immured  six 
weeks  and  three  days,  and  was  finally  released  through  the  in- 
tercession of  some  of  her  canonical  relatives  ;  upon  the  implied 
engagement,  to  exert  all  her  ingenuity  and  to  devote  all  her  en- 
ergies to  the  destruction  of  Maria  jNIonk,  and  her  "  Awful  Dis- 
closures." 

"  For  this  [)urpose  Frances  Patrick,  or  Partridge's,  departure 
from  the  Convent  was  tacitl}'  permitted ;  that  she  might  aid,  as 
the  Jesuits  designed,  in  trepanning  Maria  Monk  into  their  power. 

"She  departed  from  the  Convent  on  July  20 ;  and  it  was  in- 
stantly suspected  by  the  priests,  that  as  the  result  of  her  emanci- 
pation from  their  thraldom,  she  would  add  her  testimony  to  that  of 
Maria  Monk,  and  thus  seal  the  deathless  infamy  of  the  Canadian 
nunneries.     Having  made  all  needful  arrangements  to  escape  into 


'the  Unit 

*  travelled 
'  Roman  j 
'  pursuit, 

•  upon  the 

"It  is 
'  Partridg( 
'years;  t 
'years  ag( 
'  minutely 
'that  her 
'  mistake.' 

"G.  B, 
George  IJi 
of  it!!  T\ 
their  horri 
they  must 
escape  fro 
were  fo un( 
been   aire; 
very  fond 
they  are  k 
taken   fro 
ment  for  ; 
agent  of th 
Most  wist 
such  an  er 
themselve; 
would  end 
away  hers 
and  went  \ 
Most  saga' 
expire  wit 
Only  thin 
dungeons, 
ever  saw, 
Well:  be 
self  in  till 


51 


Convent 
?e,  in  the 
ly  of  that 
hat  slate- 
in  all  the 
?cted  and 
]n  arrived 
y  explicit, 
icurrence, 

Patrick, 
ho  priests, 
the  hypo- 
of  their 
bondage. 
r  plot  was 
qnisitor — 
hm'sse  en 
lal  author- 
3  nuns  also 
:1  Frances 
f  despair,'* 
dwell,  and 
mured  six 
]gli  the  in- 
he  implied 
all  her  en- 
Vwful  Dis- 

,  departure 
flit  aid,  as 
leir  power. 
1  it  was  in- 
er  emanci- 
y  to  that  ot* 
)  Canadian 
escape  into 


'the  United   States,  she  left  Montreal   on  Ji:ly  21  ;  but  she  had 

*  travelled  a  few  miles  only,  ere  her  llight  was  discovered,  and  two 
'Roman  priests,  Joseph  Marcoux  and  Louis  Dibla  followed  in 
'  pursuit,  and  traced  her  from  one  place  to  another,  until  she  was 

*  upon  the  very  point  of  being  recaptured,  at  Turin,  JN.  Y. 

"  It  is  proper  also  to  state  to  you,  that  Frances  Patrick,  or 
'  Partridge,  has  been  an  inmate  of  the  Convent  during  twenty-three 
'  years  ;  that  she  is  now  about  27  years  of  age  ;  and  that  nearly  ten 
'years  ago,  she  assumed  the  veil.  Those  circumstances  are  thus 
'  minutely  detailed,  that  the  utmost  exactitude  may  be  attained,  and 
'that  her  personal  identity  may  be  defined  so  as  to  preclude  all 
'  mistake."  G.  13. 

"  G.  B,"  written  out  in  full,  undoubtedly  means  the  Rev. 
George  Bourne.  And  a  most  probable  tale,  truly,  has  he  made 
of  it ! !  Two  of  the  priests  agreed  with  five  nuns,  to  escape  from 
their  horrible  bondage.  Pray  who  had  imprisoned  the  priests?  Surely 
they  must  have  imj>risoned  themselves,  and  had  plotted  a  phjt  to 
escape  from  themselves  !  But  the  j)lot  was  not  well  plotted — they 
were  found  out;  and  one  of  the  priests  and  two  of  the  nuns,  have 
been  already  murdered  !  Surely  both  priests  and  nuns  nmst  bo 
very  fond  of  beiii?;  butchered,  else  they  would  hardly  remain  where 
they  are  killing  each  other  olf  at  that  rate  !  St.  Frances  was  next 
taken  from  the  dungeon  where  she  had  been  placed  as  a  punish- 
ment for  attem[)ting  to  run  away,  and  employed  as  the  hopeful 
agent  of  the  priests  to  inveigle  jMaria  ulonk  back  into  the  Convent  ! 
Most  wise  and  sagacious  jjriests,  to  em[)I{)y  such  an  agent,  uj)oa 
such  an  enterprise  !  But  after  the  bird  had  ilown,  they  bethought 
themselves  that  instead  of  protcsthir  the  paper  of  Maria,  she 
would  endorse  it — and  instead  of  bringing  her  back,  would  stay 
away  herself!  !  And  so  they  repented  oi'  what  tiiey  had  done, 
and  went  in  pursuit  !  JMost  wise  disciples  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  ! 
Most  sagacious  descendants  of  Ignatius  Loyola  !  !  ll' wisdom  don't 
expire  with  those  sapient  priests,  she  will  yet  live  a  long  time  !  — 
Only  think  of  these  poor  priests  locking  ihemsclves  uj)  in  grated 
dungeons,  which  nobody  but  Maria  Mouk,  and  Frances  Partridge 
ever  saw,  and  crying  like  Sterne's  Starliug — '^  J^rt  me  out!''' 
Well:  being  pursued,  and  nearly  taken,  the  living  saint  finds  her- 
self in  the  town  of  Turin,  deep  in  the  woods  about  half  way  be- 


52 


tweea  Utica  and  Sackett's  Harbor, — and  about  as  convenient  a 
place  to  stop  at  on  the  way  from  Montreal  to  xNew  York,  as  East 
Greenland  would  bo  in  going  from  New  York  to  Charleston  ! 

But  even  this  is  not  all.  St.  Frances  Partridge  don't  know  ex- 
actly whoso  daughter  she  is,  but  she  thinks  her  paternity  belongs 
to  a  gentleman  in  Vermont, — who,  forgetting  to  marry  her 
mother,  sent  her  to  the  Hotel  Dieu,  at  a  particular  season,  where 
she,  the  said  saint,  first  opened  her  ej^es  upon  that  interesting 
community  !  After  having  been  a  nun  twenty-three  years,  she  es- 
caped as  aforesaid,  on  the  2ist  July  last  past.  She  made  the  first  halt 
at  Turin — from  thence  she  says  she  went  to  Rome,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  teaching  a  school,  and  was  nevertheless  in  New  Y'^ork 
within  about  four  weeks  of  her  pretended  flight !  It  seems  certain  in- 
deed that  she  has  been  in  Rome  duiingthe  late  summer,  for  she  did 
contrive  to  open  a  correspondence  with  one  of  wisdom's  own  sons 
who  is  pressing  into  his  goblet  the  grapes  of  wisdom  that  cluster 
around  the  tongue  of  Doctor  Beriah  Green,  of  the  Oneida  Insti- 
tute. The  ingenuous  youth  addresses  her  with  deep  and  awful 
reverence,  as  a  superior  being  to  himself,  and  counts  upon  her 
well-stored  armory,  I  believe,  for  weapons  to  use  in  an  effort  ho 
intends  making  to  overturn  the  papal  throne,  and  hush  forever  the 
thunders  of  the  Vatican  ! 

Nor  yet  is  this  all  the  personal  history  of  Miss  Saint  Frances 
Partridge.  She  declares  that  she  was  deputed  among  the  Sisters 
of  the  Hotel  Dieu,  to  accompany  the  conmiittee,  of  which  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Perkins  was  one,  in  the  examination  made  by  them  of  the 
cloister  on  the  J5th  of  July — six  days  before  she  eloped, — and  she 
relates  with  great  glee,  many  amusing  instances  of  the  manner  in 
which  that  committee  was  duped  and  laughed  at  by  the  nuns. 
A  mong  other  tliinu'S  she  declares,  that  in  one  of  the  rooms  which 
this  comniitloe  examined  in  her  presence,  there  was  a  closet  which 
the  assistant  superior  invited  tlie  committee  to  examine,  but  which 
they  politely  declined  doing  as  umiecessary.  In  that  closet,  at 
that  [)recise  moment,  as  she  affirms  from  her  personal  knowledge, 
lay  the  bodies  of  two  dead  infants — the  victims  of  clerical  adultery 
and  maternal  infanticide!  Now  according  to  this  modern  Saint,  if 
this  committee  had  only  acce[ited  the  invilation  of  the  acting  Su- 
perior to   open  that  closet,  they  would  have  discovered  thia  twin 


evidence,  tl 
Disclosures, 
which  that 
states,  that  ^ 
making  her  i 
in  reply  to 
that  aftftf  sh 
have  been  s 
ness  of  the  p 
wretched  an 
In  regard 
committee  w 
Nuns  live   ii 
nothing  in  c 
moral  purity 
have  been  bi 
world  began, 
than  this,  the 
for  the  cxpre 
should  be  int 
to  the  closet, 
and  requoste 
faith  of  whic 
the  inmates  ' 
and  blood,  b 
hazard  of  de 
of  downright 
Christian  m 
iy  swallow  t 
I  niter  Nun, 
iho  former. 
It  would 
selves  to  tlii 
yield  a  willi 
no  matter  w 
horrible  aiu 
is  melanchol 
isuch  deplori 


S( 


enient  a 
,  as  East 
n! 
now  ex- 

belones 
irry    her 
m,  where 
iteresting 
s,  she  es- 
>  first  halt 
tvas  there 
few  York 
certain  in- 
n  she  did 
own  sons 
at  cluster 
lida  Insti- 
md  awful 
upon  her 

efl'on  ho 
jrever  the 

:  Frances 
he  Sisters 
li  the  Rev. 
MH  of  the 
— and  she 
manner  in 
the  nuns. 
3ms  which 
aset  which 
but  which 
closet,  at 
nowiediio, 
il  adnhery 
n  Saint,  if 
acting  Su- 
1  this  iwm 


53 


evidence,  though  not  liviuj^  witnesses,  of  the  truth  of  the  "  Awful 
Disclosures,"  with  which  Maria  Monk  has  edified  the  world,  and 
which  that  committee  have  pronounced  to  be  false  !  She  also 
states,  that  while  dissembling  with  the  priests  for  the  purpose  of 
making  her  escape,  she  was  employed  by  them  to  write  a  volume 
in  reply  to  that  of  Maria  JMonk,  which  work  she  execuied ;  and 
that  after  she  had  restored  Maria  to  their  power,  she  herself  was  to 
have  been  sent  to  Spain.  And  yet,  such  is  the  invincible  blind- 
ness of  the  partisans  of  Maria  Monk,  that  they  swallow  these  most 
wretched  and  preposterous  inventions  as  sober  matters  of  verity  ! 

In  regard  to  the  story  of  the  dead  infants  in  the  closet,  while  the 
committee  was  there, — although  it  may  be  true  that  priests  and 
Nuns  live  in  the  indulgence  of  illicit  amours — (though  we  saw 
nothing  in  either  of  the  Nunneries  to  lead  us  to  question  their 
moral  purity) — although,  I  repeat,  it  may  be  true  that  cliildren 
have  been  born  and  murdered  in  nunneries — yet,  never  since  the 
world  began,  was  %.  'oro  absurd  and  incredihlo  story  fabricated 
than  this,  that  a  cc  '  '  c  who  were  searching  the  establishment 
for  the  express  purp  >'  .i  fniding  the  evidences  of  lust  and  murder, 
should  be  introduced  by  the  nuns  into  the  very  room,  and  pointed 
to  the  closet,  containing  the  double  proof  of  their  damning  guilt, 
and  requested  to  examine  it,  cannot  be  believed  by  any  effort  of 
faith  of  which  a  sober  mind  is  capable.  To  credit  it  implies  that 
the  inmates  were  not  only  daily  ropi.'ating  their  deeds  ot  infamy 
and  blood,  but  that  these  murdered  children  were  left  there  at  the 
hazard  of  detection  and  exposure,  under  circumstances  indicative 
of  downright  insanity.  Yet,  astonishing  as  it  may  seem,  there  aro 
Christian  men  and  ministers  in  the  city  of  New  Yoric,  who  greedi- 
ly swallow  the  whole,  and  regard  this  "awful  disclosure"  of  tho 
latter  Nun,  as  "  conlinnatiun  strong  as  proofs  of  holy  writ"  of 
the  former. 

It  would  seem,  indeed,  as  though  these  |)eople  hadyiekhid  them- 
selves to  this  species  of  monomania,  until  from  mere  habit,  they 
yield  a  willing  credence  to  any  story  against  the  Konian  Catholics, 
no  matter  what,  or  by  wliomso(!ver  related,  so  that  it  be  sufficiently 
horrible  and  revolting  in  its  details  of  licentiousness  and  blood.  It 
is  melancholy  to  bo  obliged  to  contemplate  such  credulity,  and 
5 such  dcplorublo  fanaticisaj ;  and  yet  tho  iutiluuccs  are  multiplied 


54 


the  Reform 

weakened  n 

manifold  coi 

stronger  tiia 

the  piiesthoc 

of  nature  ani 

vations  volui 

thropy  or  de 

concilably  o] 

Still,  how 

you  defend 

Maria  Monk 

is  there  not  a 

other  nunner 

fruit  of  the  s 

easily  exist  u 

reply  with  tl 


xviierein  such  delusion  has  been  wrought  by  the  passionate  appeals 
of  the  anti-papist  presses.  INor  is  it  to  be  denied,  that  such  pub- 
lications as  are  now  deluging  the  country,  fomenting  the  popular 
prejudices  and  appealing  to  the  basest  passions  of  our  nature — 
teeming,  as  they  do,  widi  loathsome  and  disgusting  details  of  crimi- 
nal voluptuousness,  under  the  garb  of  religion,  are  ominous  of 
fearful  results,  especially  from  their  influence  upon  the  rising  ge- 
neration of  both  sexes.  No  patriot,  philanthropist,  or  Christian, 
if  not  already  inoculated  with  the  virus  of  fanaticism  and  intoler- 
ance, can  reflect  upon  this  subject,  under  its  present  aspect,  with- 
out paii.iul  forebodings  of  the  future. 

But  I  am  not  even  yet  ready  to  conclude  this  appendix  to  my 
narrative  of  my  visit  to  the  Convent  of  the  Hotel  Dieu.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  occasional  dash  of  pleasantry  with  which  the  mono- 
tony of  the  visit  was  relieved,  and  which  was  preserved  in  writing 
out  the  account  of  the  visit,  remarks  have  been  made  which  have 
already  reached  my  ears,  insinuating  that  I  am  disposed  to  commend 
the  monastic  system.  It  has  been  kindly  hinted  that  I  have  become  yustitia,  mat 
"semi-papist,"  and  that  in  putting  down  the  wretched  imposture  ibotween  taki 
of  Maria  Monk,  in  disproving  her  "  disclosures,"  I  have  written  a  ffalse  accusat 
panegyric  upon  the  life  of  the  nuns,  as  led  in  the  cloister  of  the 
Hotel  Dieu,  the  tendency  of  which  will  be  to  attract  novices  within 
its  gloomy  walls.  Others  have  intimated  that  now  that  the  pleas- 
ures of  a  monastic  life  have  been  attested  by  a  protestant  eye- 
witness, liiore  is  danger  that  our  wives  and  daughters  will  elope 
from  their  husbands  and  parents  to  enjoy  the  domestic  sweets  of 
the  nunnery  ! 

The  infatuation  of  the  public  mind  upon  this  subject,  and  the 
necessity  of  remonstrance  and  expostulation,  can  scarce  be  ren- 
dered more  apparent,  than  by  this  simple  relation  of  the  fact,  that 
I  have  been  thus  misriipresented  even  in  circles  of  intelligent  pro- 
tostants.  In  self-vindication,  I  liave  only  to  say  to  those  not  thus 
bewildered,  that,  in  my  view,  a  sense  of  justice  and  common  ho- 
nesty, recjuires  the  truth  to  be  s[)oken  alike  of  popery  and  nunne- 
ries, though  we  may  have  no  fellowship  with  the  one,  or  design  of 
approving  the  other.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  contribute  in  the  re- 
motest degree  to  the  vindication  of  the  system  of  |)opery,  in  any 


whether  Pop( 
virtuous,  but 
lations  of  IMi 
in  regard  to 
of  a  correct 
credit  which 
inan,  whet  he  i 
vice,  the  pre^ 
fact  already 
quite  a  beliov 
of  perhaps  le 
Pxamining  foi 
ion  of  this  d( 
<vith  a  deteri 
tl'lie  result  is 
Evidence  of  t 
iher  Maria  ^ 


of  its  forms,  from  the  charges  justly  made  against  it  by  Luther  ami  v^^  Convent 


55 

the  Reformers  ;  nor  has  my  visit  to  Montreal  in  any  measure 
weakened  my  protestant  faith,  or  diminished  my  hostility  to  the 
manifold  corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  On  the  contrary, 
stronger  than  ever,  if  possihie,  is  my  belief,  that  the  celibacy  of 
tiie  priesthood,  and  of  the  female  recluses,  is  contrary  to  the  lawn 
of  nature  and  of  God ;  and  I  can  but  attribute  the  vows  and  pri- 
vations voluntarily  assumed  by  the  Nuns,  as  the  effects  of  misan- 
thropy or  delusion,  to  which  Christianity  is  unalterably  and  irre- 
concilably opposed. 

Still,  however,  I  have  been  asked,  "  Cui  bona  ?  Why  should 
yoM  defend  the  Romanists'?  Even  if  the  "Awful  Disclosures"  of 
Maria  Monk  are  untrue  in  relation  to  the  Hotel  Dieu  at  Montreal, 
is  there  not  ample  evidence  that  such  practices  have  prevailed  in 
other  nunneries,  and  other  countries?  And  is  it  not  the  legitimate 
fruit  of  the  system  of  monachism,  that  corruption  and  crime  may 
easily  exist  under  the  concealment  of  the  cloister  1"  To  which  I 
reply  with  the  christian  sentiment  uttered  by  a  heathen — Fiat 
justitia^rnat  cmhiiny  There  is,  moreover,  an  essential  difference 
ibctween  taking  sides  with  satan,  and  defending  even  him  from 
false  accusation.  The  question  I  have  been  examining,  is  not 
whether  Popery  be  true,  or  the  priests  of  Rome  holy,  or  the  nuns 
virtuous,  but  simply  ant'  only  this  :  Whether  the  loathsome  reve- 
lations of  Maria  Monk,  and  Frances  Partri'lge,  are  true  or  false, 
in  regard  to  the  priests  and  nuns  of  Montreal  1  The  importance 
of  a  correct  decision  of  this  question,  grows  out  of  the  extensive 
credit  which  her  book  has  obtained,  and  the  interest  which  every 
jnan,  whether  Protestant  or  Catholic,  has  in  the  suppression  of 
vice,  the  prevention  of  crime,  and  the  maintenance  of  truth.  The 
fact  already  confessed,  that  I  was,  myself,  at  times,  almost  if  not 
quite  a  believer  in  her  book,  in  common  with  multitudes  of  others, 
of  perhaps  less  credulity,  led  to  tiie  desire  of  an  opportunity  of 
examining  for  myself;  and  as  circumstances  favored  the  gralifica- 
lion  of  this  desire,  I  entered  upon  an  inspection  of  the  premises, 
and  nunne-p'th  a  determination  of  making  a  rigid  and  impartial  scrutiny, 
jl'ho  result  is  before  the  reader  ;  and  having  ascertained  from  the 


ite  appeals 
such  pub- 
he  popular 
-  nature — 
Is  of  crimi- 
ominous  of 
rising  ge- 
■  Christian, 
md  intoler- 
ipect,  with- 

ndix  to  my 
.   In  conse- 
I  the  mono- 
1    in  writing 
which  have 
to  comn^end 
ave  become 
1  imposture 
ve  written  a 
)ister  of  the 
vices  within 
t  the  pleas- 
estant  eye- 
5   will  elope 
ic  sweets  of 


3ct,  and  the 
rce  be  ren- 
the  f\ict,  that 
elligent  pro- 
ose  not  thus 
;ommon  bo- 


or design  ot 
te  in  the  re- 
)ory,  in  any 
f  Luther  anil 


Evidence  of  their  own  declarations,  and  my  own  senses,  that  nei- 
iher  Maria  Monk  nor  Frances  Partridge  has  been  an  inmate  of 
iihe  Convent  from  which  they  pretend  to  have  escaped,  l  cannot. 


titnatatmti 


56 


and  will  not,  withbolfl  the  public  expression  of  my  deliberate  con- 
viction, that  the  book  of  Miss  Monk  is  a  vile  and  infamous  fabri- 
cation ;  that  she  and  the  protended  St.  Frances  are  both  arrant 
impostors  ;  both  of  which  if  not  protected  by  the  convenient  plea| 
of  insanity,  deserve  to  be  punished  by  the  laws  of  the  land. 

I  cannot  but  lament,  in  common  with  all  Protestants,  the  crimesl 
and  corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rome  ;  especially  do  1  deplore 
the  increase  of  the  professors  of  that  creed,  in  our  own  country.! 
But  still  I  cannot  as  a  professing  Protestant,  withhold  the  evidence] 
in  my  possession  to  protect  them  from  calumny  and  falsehood. 
At  the  same  time,  I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  have  yet  another  ob-l 
ject  in  view,  vi?, :  the  emancipation  of  my  own  countrymen  from  the! 
bondage  of  prejudice,  superinduced  by  the  most  flagrant  imposture.! 
This  task  I  have  attempted  to  perform,  honestly,  and  according! 
to  the  best  of  my  ability,  without  fear,  favor,  or  affection.  In  sol 
doing,  I  have  believed  myself  to  be  likewise  performing  a! 
duty  to  Protestant  Christianity  in  the  light  of  truth ;  since  I  be- 
lieve the  most  sovereign  antidote  to  the  march  of  popery  will  ever! 
be  found  in  that  divine  attribute;  and  if  the  Papal  power  can  onhl 
be  overthrown  by  fraud,  falsehood  and  imposture,  I  say,  for  one| 
let  it  stand. 

And  now,  having  thus  acquitted  myself  in  this  matter,  I  havel 
little  anxiety  how  many  or  how  few  among   my  fellow  citizens, 
choose  to  believe  what  I  have  written.     I  shall  not  be  surprised, 
or  personally  alllicted,  if  the  whole  tribe  of  the  believers  in  Mariaj 
Blonk,  should  believe  in  her  still  ;   since,  in  this  free  country,  every! 
man  has  a  right  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  own  opinion.     Still,  fori 
the  sake  of  the  public  morals  and  the  public  tranquility,  I  couldl 
heartily  wish  that  no  more  of  this  description  of  anti-popery  litera- 
ture should  be  thrown  from  the  American  press.       The  evils  in-l 
flicted   ui)on  our  whole   population,  by  such  publications,  are   noJ 
properly  appeciatcd,  or  they  would  long  since  have  received  tliej 
stern  rebuke  of  our  moralists.     They  are  extensive  and  to  a  dej 
gree  irreparable.     Among  the  most  prominent  of  these  evils  is  tlia 
increase  of  Poi)ery  itself — the   certain  result  of  intc^orance  aiiJ 
persecution — more  especially  when  such  persecution  is  founded  ill 
falsehood  and  imposture. 

New  York,  Wednesday,  October  12,  183C. 


borate  con- 
nous  fabri- 
both  arrant! 
enient  plea 
and. 
,  the  crimes! 
o  1  deplore 
\vn  country, 
le  evidence! 
d  falsehood.! 
another  ob-l 
len  from  the  I 
It  imposture, 
id  according! 
:tion.     In  sol 
>crforming  al 
since  I  be-l 
cry  will  ever! 
wer  can  onlyl 
say,  for  one,! 

itter,  I  havel 
How  citizens, 
be  surprised! 
/ers  in  Marial 
uuntry,  ever}! 
n.     8till,  fori 
lility,  I  couldj 
topery  litem- 
The  evils  in-l 
ions,  are   notj 
received  tlicj 
and  to  a  dej 
38  evils  is  tm 
;;  trance  anJ 
is  founded  H 


